The farmers watch over the unripe grapes… patiently waiting for the colours of the sun.
To own land is to protect its integrity, it is to share harmony and beauty at different times of day and seasons…. it is to feel part of its life cycle.
Summer in the country is the season of vitality and exuberant energy, from its excess temperatures to its sharp colours…. In the vineyard this is the most important season: the quantity of sunlight, together with the right amount of rain will determine the quality of the grapes and the wine vintage. When the vines have stopped blossoming, the green shoots unkempt from the wind are tied and any excess leaves close to the bunches that block out the sunlight to the grapes are removed, everything is done manually. We then move onto clipping the shoots and cutting the grass. The vines are treated with copper and sulphur based salt, integrated constantly with sea weed which helps strengthen the vines, giving them the strength and energy to naturally fight off any fungi.
We count on a dry summer (the vines don’t need much water and they easily adapt to warm and dry climates) hopefully without any dangerous storms along with the threatening strong winds and hailstones that they bring with them in our valley encircled by mountains.
Only when there is a period of prolonged drought and in the drier or exposed areas do we use the drop system irrigation as aid.
Spring
The farmers embroider the soil… rows of macramé.
Spring in the country is the comeback of life and colours. It always takes you by surprise and even whilst working you find yourself chasing its exuberance.
After pruning and tying up all the shoots, followed by cutting off the vine branches that bring in organic substances to the soil along with the manure wherever needed in the vineyards.
Summer
The farmers watch over the unripe grapes… patiently waiting for the colours of the sun.
Summer in the country is the season of vitality and exuberant energy, from its excess temperatures to its sharp colours…. In the vineyard this is the most important season: the quantity of sunlight, together with the right amount of rain will determine the quality of the grapes and the wine vintage
Autumn
The farmers thank the soil… fruits of love and perspiration
Autumn, harvest time, the final target and synthesis of all the work in the vineyard…. from the pruning to the manuring, from leaf-stripping to pruning grapes ….. if all this work is done with care combined with a dry and sunny climate the grapes will not drop off so easily in the vineyards, so the fruit will then be richer in taste and scent: crunchy grape skin, crunchy grape-seed.
Winter
The farmers cradle the soil that sleeps… together they dream of a green spring
Winter in the vineyard is the season of silence, of muffled sounds, and of cold and subdued colours. And, when the snow comes with its dazzling whiteness, its soft cover gently warms up the ground’s slumber. The snow in the vineyard is sent from heaven. The ground conserves the heat and humidity of its roots which are not so afraid of low temperatures as they are to those of cold icy northern currents and lack of rain. Whilst the soil allows itself to rest, we dedicate ourselves to the cellar