As in previous years, at Sonberk we start with the awakening of the new vintage in January - by pruning the vines. Last year's vines will no longer be needed, so we must cut and mulch (not burn) them. The pruning also determines the layout of the next harvest - its correct execution has a direct impact on the yield and quality of the grapes. We would like to have the work on the 45 hectares finished as we have done for the past few years - by March 19th.
Thanks to temperatures above zero and the absence of snow cover, this year we were able to start right after the holidays on January 3. Seven pairs of experienced hands went into the vineyard and pruned the canopies in the nearest vicinity of the winery - the reason was the aforementioned relatively warm temperatures, where the workers' hands do not freeze but their rubber boots inevitably sink into the mud.
As in the past years, our vineyard manager Roman Slouk is also pruning together with a stable group of seasonal workers. In addition to the already established Rhine-Hessian line with a single cut for white varieties and the so-called head cut for blue varieties, this year he will personally carry out the so-called cordon cut in the vineyard.
"Cordon pruning is more demanding, but it has its advantages. It eliminates tying and also makes green work easier. The cordon makes better use of the wire space, it can be head to head and the annuals have a better living space. There are fewer grapes and they are bigger and better quality. Compared to pull-cutting, the cutting wounds are smaller - so there is less chance of Esca disease entering the vines."
Esca is a fungal disease that is becoming more and more prevalent in Czech and Moravian vineyards due to the warming climate. Infected vines cannot be helped; over a period of years, Esca kills them and causes irreversible damage to the winegrower. Winemakers are therefore looking for ways to prevent its spread as effectively as possible.
At the moment, only a very small proportion of Sémillon, Sauvignon and Merlot plants are being cut this way at Sonberk. According to Roman Slouk, this is an experiment that will need further monitoring and evaluation. However, there is one thing that even the public will be able to observe. The cordon-cut vineyard looks different, unconventional and is also extremely photogenic," Slouk smiles and promises interesting shots from the vineyard this year.
Would you like to see and experience all this? We look forward to seeing you at Sonberk.
Visit usRegister and get a 10% discount on the purchase of wines. In addition to an attractive system of club discounts for you, we also have a non-public wine offer.
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Sonberk a.s.
Tel: +420 777 630 434
or: +420 730 594 570
E-mail: sonberk@sonberk.cz
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