Annual cultivation

Vines are domesticated plants which would have great difficulty in adapting to the wild. Frequently, vines which are not looked after become diseased, wither and die, even though it would appear natural that, without pruning and cultivation, they would develop into a thick tangle of leaves and canes. An abandoned vine dies despite having soil and sun.

The attentions which vines must receive annually in the Rioja in order to maintain their level of quality production are several and can be grouped into:

Care of the soil. Care of the plant. Treatment of possible diseases.

We have already seen that the vegetative cycle of the vine spans the period from April to October. During this time care is necessary, especially during the initial stage from budding to flowering. This period lasts about sixty days (April and May), the vines go through two complex, delicate and energy-absorbing stages: Budding and flowering/fertilisation, both coinciding with the wet period of spring in the Rioja.

For all these reasons, from April 1st until the end of May, greater care must be given than at other times.

The attention given to the soil has the basic aim of maintaining the humidity received by the soil and to prevent rain water from running away. The attention given vines during this period tends to simplify the growth required to produce the canes. In turn, favouring in the development of bunches or the fertilization of flowers and to give the green mass of vines a pleasant appearance.

At the beginning of April it is usual practice to separate the earth that some months before had surrounded the trunk to defend it against winter frosts. This separation of earth creates a space around the trunk which enables rain water to penetrate the area next to it.

First week of Aplil. EARTHING UP

About two weeks later, the vine having already sprouted, buds appear on the old wood of the trunk, spoiling the appearance of the vine and consuming energy and water. For this reason, "espergura" or trimming takes place, which many Rioja vinegrowers also call "espervura". In short, it is a "purging" or cleaning of the trunks. Shoots sprouting from the trunk are removed by hand. In addition, other plants will have grown spontaneously among the vines, these are also removed. They disfigure the vineyard and consume the scarce amounts of water. The soil is broken up at the same time to allow for the absorption of the rain. If the soil were not loose and broken up, rain would run off without penetrating into the soil, especially in the case of vineyards planted on hillsides.

Middle of Aplil TRIMMING AND HARROWING

At the end of April, canes tend to develop smaller leaves among the main ones, fruit of the secondary buds on these canes. This would lead to an excessive ramification of the vine. Therefore these shoots are removed by hand in an operation which is called "desniete" or the removal of lateral shoots. Due to this operation, the development of excessive foliation is avoided and energy is retained in the lower part of the canes where the clusters of grapes are formed. At the same time the weeds are again removed so that the soil, the upper layers of which are loose, can withstand the loss of moisture due to evaporation in the summer heat. As of that moment the development of the canes does not allow working between the vines, although this is facilitated by the rows and lanes of modern vineyards.

End of April REMOVAL OF LATERAL SHOOTS AND HARROWING

At the end of May "despunte" or "tipping" is carried out consisting of cutting back the lengthwise growth of the canes and retaining the energy involved to favour flowering. Tipping may be repeated after flowering for the benefit of the clusters of grapes: cutting back leaves at the same time so that the grapes can swell. Nevertheless, in vineyards which are unprotected from the wind, tipping, or the cutting back of about 40 cm from the end of the cane, is also necessary in order to remove a surface on which the wind can exert a considerable force, breaking them off at the base. This part is still tender and weak but in June hardens and changes into wood.

Treatment to prevent the possibility of disease can be made at the same time as this work is carried out.