In Pursuit of Perfection, our exceptional practises extend beyond the cellar at De Toren. Gina, our dedicated viticulturist, brings fresh insights into the art of pruning, aiming to refine our techniques and enhance the vitality of our vineyards.
But why do we prune in the first place?
A vine’s instinct is to creep and only produce vegetation such as shoots and leaves. To prune vines is to manipulate the reproduction instincts and direct the growth to fruit and away from green vegetation, through putting the vine under a small measure of stress after pruning.
In viticulture, we aim to control the vine to ensure grape clusters of premium quality, ripe fruit with concentrated flavours. Pruning helps achieve this by balancing the vine’s fruit production and vegetative growth for the next season.
Throughout winter, vines store carbohydrates and nutrients from the soil, essential for bud burst, flowering, and fruit set in the new harvest season. When we prune, the incisions create open wounds on the plant, requiring it to use these stored reserves for healing. In contrast, =large pruning wounds can deplete the vine’s energy and damage its vascular system, thereby affecting its vigour in the spring.
At De Toren, we focus on making precise, and controlled, small cuts to minimize stress on the vines and vascular systems, to preserve their “fuel” reserves for the spring bud burst. To add to the exceptional nature of care of De Toren, our dedicated team of four ladies who each have twenty years of experience, ensure that each vine gets the attention it needs. This careful approach ensures healthier vines, optimum canopy development, followed by a high-quality crop in the following vintage.
In our commitment to organic farming, we employ natural fungi after pruning to cover the wound and promote the development of natural defences against diseases like Esca and Eutypa dieback. This holistic method nurtures our vines and aligns with our dedication to sustainable viticulture.
De Toren
Experience Exceptional
