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04-02-2021
Column: Wine Chat - VINTAGE, THE LONG GAME
Column: Wine Chat - VINTAGE, THE LONG GAME
Vintage is what they’ve been training for all year. It’s the time when the harvested grapes come to the winery to start the process of being transformed into wine.
Grapes are a perennial crop, meaning they grow and bloom over spring and summer then die back during autumn and winter. Unlike other fruits, grapes don’t ripen after they’re picked so there’s a lot riding on picking them at exactly the right time. There’s danger with every season and at every stage of their lifecycle.
Grape vines are dormant in the winter months but pruning done during this time is as essential as training in the off season. Cutting back the previous year’s growth and pruning all but the best canes determines the future success of the vine.
In spring, sap rises from the roots of the vine and the first signs of new growth appear in the form of bud burst. These buds are very delicate and need to be protected from injury so that they can go on to create shoots and flowers. The flowers of a grapevine are called ‘perfect flowers’ becaus

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