HOW DO WE PRUNE OUR VINES AT BODEGA DEL ABAD?

When speaking of pruning vines, we are referring to one of the most important tasks of all those performed in a vineyard. At Bodega del Abad we see pruning as vital to determining the quality of our future wines, and so we devote all our expertise to tending suitably to our 35 hectares of vineyards, in the district of El Bierzo.

Pruning is done while the vines are dormant, when the plants have already absorbed all the nutrients they require. In a preliminary stage, most of the dry canes are removed, leaving just a few centimetres, to facilitate subsequent pruning. Our winegrowers tend our vines with the aim of enhancing their output and striking the right balance between quantity and quality in the grapes harvested. To achieve this it is vital to know how many buds to leave on each spur. At Bodega del Abad we opt to leave two buds, or three at most, with a protective finger of cane over each one. This allows us to renew the vines, extend their fruiting life and procure an optimal distribution of nutrients in each vinestock. 

If we may ask a question, do you think vines could “weep”? The answer, surprisingly enough, is yes. Once warmer weather reaches our vineyards, in the heart of the Bierzo Designation of Origin district, the vines shake off their winter dormancy so that the sap runs through them again, dripping out of the cuts left by our pruners and giving the impression of weeping. 

Pruning is a complex manual task requiring much expertise and skilful execution. One thing we are sure of at Bodega del Abad is that tending our vines is key to our continuing to produce wines of quality. We have made a video to show how we go about pruning in our Bierzo vineyards – a key growing practice which we’d like to share with you all. Tap the link below, and enjoy!

Pruning at Bodega del Abad: https://bit.ly/2HcxcBD