During the coldest part of the year, it´s usually January while the vines are “hibernating”, we will carry out the pruning. Fortunately, technology has evolved which has made things much easier: With electric cutters we can select and prune the vines according to our needs. Important issue here is to reduce to the amount of buds on the vine, that is where the new shoots will come out in spring. The old vine represents the middle, from which two canes are tied: One on the left and one on the right. The old remaining shoots are taken away from the trellising wires and piled up in the middle of the row, where they will be mulched. Usually the work has to be carried out in harsh conditions (cold, wind, fog, …) but it´s a good time for contemplation and thinking about life.
A few weeks after the first “weaving” the second part of the work takes place during the hot summer months of July and August. The long shoots are now above the upper lifting wire, so that they are nicely bound inside the trellising system. Afterwards, these shoots are trimmed to contain them from being torn
While nature is sprouting, there is also the next highlight in the Milchhausstraße: The new windows have been delivered! An important step in the direction of modern tasting zone, we are very pleased.
As soon as the shoots are high enough, they have to be “woven” into the trellising system. This wire construction is essential for the shoots to grow vertically and then finally result in a lush green canopy. This canopy is the guarantee for ideal photosynthesis as well as shading the grapes from the aggressive sun.
WINE BY S. PRATSCH
Milchhausstrasse 5, 2223 Hohenruppersdorf im Weinviertel, Österreich
+43 676 624 9773
office@pratsch.at
