The Start of a new Vintage at Mellasat Vineyards
The vines are in flower – this is the actual start of the new vintage with the Chardonnay, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Tempranillo leading the way!
Ten weeks after bud break, small flowers appear on the tips of the young shoots. Soon the pollination process will begin and then the berries will appear and grow. This will determine what our harvest will be like in terms of quantity and quality.
It is so exciting to see the vines growing so well and, so far this season, it’s exactly as it should be. We had a nice cool spring with cold nights and warm days and of course nice rain.
We have done some operations in the vineyards – mainly preventative treatments against pests and diseases. We have also done some suckering: suckering is an important part of vine development and it assists in shaping the vine. Suckering is the process of removing any unwanted shoots on the vine in order to keep a good balance between leaf area and bunch production, and is critical for the production of good quality grapes.
Shoot thinning is also important for creating the best growing and ripening conditions for the grapes. To open the canopy means better air movement and this helps to dry the moisture from the leaves to prevent downy and powdery mildew.