As we have already told you in our blog, in Arzuaga we are increasing the number of hectares of our vineyards . But this process is not reduced only for 2019, last year the plantation of 17 new hectares was carried out next to our winery. After seeing how they are at their time of planting, do you want to know how they evolve over a year of growth? Keep reading!
During the first year, the new plants “grip” the soil with their roots. The growth in this period is free, without cuts being made, nor affecting its development by no means. Thus, they can grow up to approximately 1.70 metres after which it is necessary to start pruning.
Next to our winery, alongside the building on the open N-122 highway that everyone already knows, you can see a total of 41,000 plants that added to our aggregate vineyards in the spring of 2018. Thereby, in these 17 new hectares of vines planted last year, all of them on a trellis and from the Tempranillo variety, this first pruning process has already been carried out.
It should be noted that budding has also taken place in these new plants and some of them have small grape clusters by now. However, these first clusters appearing in the so young plant will be removed. Why? Unlike to what happens in green pruning (enlace blog), this time it is necessary that all reserves and nutrients of the plant goes to the trunk to create a strong support and wood for the plant. Therefore, by removing the clusters the plant will not be stressed and all these nutrients will be for the trunk formation.
The trunk of the vine is also at the fore in the following process that will be carried out: guiding the plant. In this sense, first of all is needed to choose the stem that has the best direction, avoiding the curves and looking for the greatest possible straightness. With time, that branch will be the one which became the trunk. The stem and the guiding canes are fixed, tied manually with rubbers and performing several tying. In addition, the plant goes up and is tied to the wires to get the final shape of the vines.
It is worthy noted that although the plantation has a success rate about 99%, sometimes the new plants dry up or die. Due to this, when they have already reached a year planted, it is expected the budding finishes. At that time, if it is seen that there is one that has not given any bud, it will be removed and proceeding with its manual replanting with a skewer with water.
Regarding the plant care and its health, it is very difficult they suffer diseases as they are very aired.
In two years these vines will have their trunks well-formed and begin to bear a useful grape – the much appreciated 3-year-old harvesting or third year of plantation.
If you want to learn more about the new vineyards of Bodegas Arzuaga… don’t miss this video from our YouTube channel!