The vine goes through a fascinating vegetative cycle, punctuated by the seasons and marked by crucial stages such as flowering. This period, when the vines blossom, is both a time of fragility and promise for winegrowers, as it largely determines the quality and quantity of the future harvest.
The spring awakening
In early spring, as the days lengthen and the temperatures ease, the vines slowly emerge from their winter dormancy. The first signs of life appear with budburst, when the buds begin to swell and crack, revealing the first leaves.
Flowering, a crucial moment
Towards the beginning of June, the vine enters one of the most spectacular phases of its vegetative cycle: flowering. This is a crucial moment when the delicate bunches of flowers bloom on the vines, perfuming the air with subtle fragrances and attracting pollinating insects.
Flowering is a delicate and sensitive period, as weather conditions, particularly temperature and humidity, can greatly influence the fertilisation process. If the weather is too cold or rainy, pollination can be compromised, leading to coulure, or the fall of unfertilised flowers, which reduces the potential yield of the coming harvest.
The winegrower can also carry out manual disbudding or de-budding to limit the yield from undesirable shoots and thus encourage the concentration of the grapes. This additional pruning operation will ensure a balance between the vegetative and reproductive parts of the plant.
Berry formation
Once the flowers have been successfully pollinated, the berries gradually begin to form. This process, known as fruit set, is crucial for the future harvest. The berries develop slowly, going through different phases of growth, and the careful attention of winegrowers is needed to ensure their optimum health and development.
Ripening the grapes
As the summer progresses, the berries continue to ripen, accumulating sugars, aromas and phenolic compounds that are essential to the quality of the wine. Veraison, when the berries change colour and become softer, marks the start of this critical ripening phase. This is when the grapes take on their characteristic hue, ranging from green to red or purple, depending on the variety.
The harvest, the fruit of hard work and patience
Finally, when the grapes have reached full ripeness, comes the long-awaited moment of harvest. This is a period of intense activity in the vineyards, when the grape-pickers carefully harvest the bunches, selecting the best fruit to produce wines of exceptional quality.
The vine cycle, from flowering to harvest, is a symphony of nature, with each stage playing a crucial role in the creation of exceptional wines. Flowering, in particular, represents a moment of fragility and promise, where the vagaries of the weather and the care of the winegrowers combine to shape the destiny of the harvest to come. By understanding and respecting this cycle, wine artisans celebrate the beauty and generosity of nature, while creating wines that captivate the senses and tell the story of their terroir. Sources : - RVF - Domaine Vayssette
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