For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Sunday, 17 February 2008

Pruning vines, Alsheim, Germany, Tuesday 12th February 2008



To appreciate what lies behind a good bottle of wine, it is most enjoyable to experience each stage of the process. Award-winning wine maker, Karl Breth http://www.weingut-breth.de/ was my teacher.

Here am I, laden with a battery power pack and powerful electric secateurs, cutting out all of the previous year's growth, except a single cane. This is then bent over to allow new shoots to grow upwards from the one new stem.
Only two supporting wires were cut as I was getting the hang of the task!



The cut vines are later removed and placed between the rows. They are then mulched by a tractor to produce humus to maintain soil structure.

Wine has been made here in Rheinhessen since Roman times and the soil needs all the help it can get.

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