Vineyard Management

Thinning

Having previously done a severe pruning we try to avoid consequent vine thinning.  An exception arises during years where the vine growth is particularly vigorous in which case it is necessary to thin down to about  5 to 6 bunches.  We continue to monitor the production rate of the vines with the aim of arriving at the following bunch counts:  merlot  12 bunches,  cabernet franc   8-10 bunches, and syrah 6-8 bunches.
We ultimately make two separate harvests – one in late August or early September to cut early ripening bunches and allow the remaining still-maturing bunches to benefit from the nutrients of the vine without competition.   This first harvest provides us the fruit that we use in our production of Altrovino.
Then, depending on the year, our harvest is completed between September and early October with the final grapes arriving at the winery’s selection table.