Autumn – Soil nutrition is very important in autumn and practises like composting and establishing cover crops help to maintain soil health. Cover crops are selected based on each sites’ nutritional needs or shortcomings. All dead vines are removed and exposed soil around the vines is covered with mulch to protect against the coming dry summer season. In the wet season, mulch is broken down by organisms in the soil contributing to a healthier and less compact top layer essential for plant growth.
Autumn – Soil nutrition is very important in autumn and practises like composting and establishing cover crops help to maintain soil health. Cover crops are selected based on each sites’ nutritional needs or shortcomings. All dead vines are removed and exposed soil around the vines is covered with mulch to protect against the coming dry summer season. In the wet season, mulch is broken down by organisms in the soil contributing to a healthier and less compact top layer essential for plant growth.
Winter – One of the most important activities during the year is winter pruning to form the grapevine, it is also the most time consuming. Canes are carefully selected to carry fruit for the harvest and cut back to small shoots using the spur pruning technique favourable for warmer climate regions. Spur pruning is a more traditional training technique for old vines, and we use the goblet method, an ancient method of vine training forming a goblet-shaped growth or head. Cover crops mature in winter when we get efficient rain in the Mediterranean like climate, we enjoy in the Swartland.
Winter – One of the most important activities during the year is winter pruning to form the grapevine, it is also the most time consuming. Canes are carefully selected to carry fruit for the harvest and cut back to small shoots using the spur pruning technique favourable for warmer climate regions. Spur pruning is a more traditional training technique for old vines, and we use the goblet method, an ancient method of vine training forming a goblet-shaped growth or head. Cover crops mature in winter when we get efficient rain in the Mediterranean like climate, we enjoy in the Swartland.
Spring – Early spring legumes and cover crops flower as soil temperatures slowly rise. The first signs of life appear and budding is an extremely delicate time. This is the start of the growing season; a time to keep a cautious eye on plant health. Organic sprays are used to promote growth and build up the plant’s resistance. The flowering period is very important and will largely determine the quality and quantity of fruit available for harvest. Towards the second half of spring we flatten all cover crops to create a carpet that will keep evaporation to a minimum and help to cool down the topsoil.
Spring – Early spring legumes and cover crops flower as soil temperatures slowly rise. The first signs of life appear and budding is an extremely delicate time. This is the start of the growing season; a time to keep a cautious eye on plant health. Organic sprays are used to promote growth and build up the plant’s resistance. The flowering period is very important and will largely determine the quality and quantity of fruit available for harvest. Towards the second half of spring we flatten all cover crops to create a carpet that will keep evaporation to a minimum and help to cool down the topsoil.
Summer – During summer we harvest the hard work done throughout the year. Grapes are handpicked by local workers from the Swartland area. Part of this celebration is to convert the grape juice into wine with a very natural approach and minimal intervention. We don’t add commercially cultivated yeast, bacteria, or fermentation aids. Sulphur is the only additive.
Summer – During summer we harvest the hard work done throughout the year. Grapes are handpicked by local workers from the Swartland area. Part of this celebration is to convert the grape juice into wine with a very natural approach and minimal intervention. We don’t add commercially cultivated yeast, bacteria, or fermentation aids. Sulphur is the only additive.
