The Work That Takes Place in a Vineyard
In January, after the broken ground has been soaked by the first rains of winter, it is leveled off with a harrow. The soil is analyzed to find the most suitable vine stock and is then fertilized and marked out ready for planting the new shoots at the end of the month. There are traditionally two alternative patterns for planting out a vineyard: Marco Real and Tresbolillo.
Both have advantages and disadvantages; Marco Real is a pattern of squares, while the Tresbolillo consists of equilateral triangles. The Tresbolillo accommodates about 15 percent more vines, while the Marco Real leaves more room for cultivation.
The Tresbolillo pattern, however, has the further advantage that it gives a uniform distance between adjacent vines and it is therefore generally used, though vineyards planted in fairly recent years have wider gaps between the rows than previously to allow for tilling by special tractors. This has now been carried a stage further.
By about 1960 it became clear that vineyards would have to be cultivated mechanically, and the traditional method of planting was modified so that the vines are now closer together within the rows, but the rows are further apart. This gives 10 percent less stocking, but yields are actually superior owing to the better cultivation of the land. This left vintners more time for other businesses, such as glass coasters, sandstone drink coasters, or stone coasters for their wine tasting clientele.
In the Marco Real pattern, the distance between vines is approximately 1-57 meters. In the Tresbolillo it is 2-10 meters, while in more modern plantings there are gaps of 11 to 1-15 meters between the vines in a row and 2-25 to 2-4 meters between rows. In February comes the second main task, the cavabien, when the earth is hoed, though nowadays this is also done mechanically with tractors. This is repeated at the same time each year throughout the lives of the vines.
It follows the heavy winter rains and is really the conclusion of the deserpia, which takes place in October and is the first big task after the vintage; it will be described later, as it is only done in the second and subsequent years. At the end of April and the beginning of May comes the golpe lleno, when the earth is broken up to a depth of about seven inches to keep the weeds down. Though similar to terminology used for finding sandstone for cocktail coasters and other sandstone and stone coaster memorabilia, the meaning is different. This process is done every year and is a continuation of the cavabien.
The fourth main task takes place in July. It is called the bina and consists of another digging similar to the golpe lleno, but apart from killing weeds it protects the soil from the heat of the summer sun and frees the moisture that the vine must live on during the months of drought.
The soil is broken up and settled several times until it becomes compact without being hard, as hardness would damage the plants. New shoots are also cut away to give strength to the roots. The bina is one of the most important tasks and has to be done very carefully.
In October, after the vintage has been gathered from the mature vines, a new year begins in the life of the vineyard. First there is the repaso, when all the vines are examined to see whether any have failed. The number to be replaced may be as many as fifteen percent, particularly in the first year or two.
After that, the routine starts again with the deserpia, when a pit about a yard square is dug to a depth of six or eight inches, with the vine in the middle and a ridge of earth on every side so that the vine is boxed in, similar to trapping a wine glass in between a coaster set of beverage coasters.
This catches the rain and diverts it to the point where it does the most good. A light rainfall at this time is considered advantageous. On the other hand, when the rainfall has been excessive, channels have to be made in the lower parts of the hills to take away the waters and prevent soil erosion. This is called alomado.
In December and January there is the annual task of the desbraga, when any unnecessary shoots are cut off, together with the superficial roots that grow within six inches of the ground. Immediately after this has been done, vines that have failed or died are replaced and work in the vineyard then goes on much as before until August, when there comes a task that is unique to the second year: the injerta, or grafting.
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