The subject of irrigation in viticulture can be a controversial one. Many Old World wine regions consider rainfall the only natural source of water that will retain the terroir characteristics of the vineyard. In other regions, application of irrigation can influence both quality and yield. In Europe, the rules around irrigation of vineyards can be … Continued
Yes. You read that right. Flowering. In grapevines. This is a fact that surprises many but grapevines do produce flowers. The flowers are are extremely small, but contain a stamen, anther, stigma and pistil – just like many other types of flowers. Our viticultural interventions do not really affect the flowering process – but the climate … Continued
The annual growth cycle of the grapevine consists of several stages: budburst (or bud break), flower cluster initiation, flowering, fruit set, berry development, harvest and dormancy. Bud break begins in the springtime, when the previously dormant buds begin to grow shoots. This is also the time of year where the important viticultural practice of suckering … Continued
Still in the thick of planting season, this month we are elucidating the process of planting – putting the vine in the ground – and all the planning and detail around this fairly simple-seeming process. Long before planting – even before winter sets in – the soil is prepared by ripping, which aerates and … Continued
Making a difference through building Community is a founding principle of Oldenburg Vineyards. The question is, what does this mean? I like to think that Community is a three-way proposition. Internally, what can the business do to create a positive impact? Externally, what can we do to make an impact on our local community? … Continued
The more one learns about viticulture and winemaking, the more it becomes apparent that the actions and activities occurring in the dormant winter months is equally (if not more) important than the bustling harvest activities involved in making the wines. The numerous practices applied to the vines between the end of one harvest, and the … Continued
Once the harvest starts drawing to a close, the cellar is at the point where tens of thousands of litres of juice – in various stages of fermentation and post-fermentation processing – needs to be dealt with, processed and stored to complete the journey into a bottle of Rondekop, Oldenburg Vineyards or <CL°. This month, … Continued
In a previous post, we elucidated and compared the use of whole bunches compared to crushing and destemming the bunches before fermentation. This month, we are delving into the fermentation process and focusing on the whole bunch method, and how it is used here in the Oldenburg Vineyards cellar. Whole bunch fermentation is typically … Continued
Continuing with the harvest theme, this month we are looking at the different methods of pressing the grapes (the process to get the juice out of the berries). It might seem straightforward (squeeze the berry and the juice comes out, right?) but there are actually two very different methods of pressing that can be used … Continued
Rolling through summer, towards harvest, the vineyard team are at work with the final interventions before the grapes ripen and harvest begins. Around veraison (the period where grapes start to visibly ripen, from green to soft yellow or red, depending on the cultivar) is the time where the practice of crop thinning – or green … Continued
As we head into summer, the countdown to harvest has officially begun – but while our focus is often on the beautifully ripened, ready-for-picking grapes, the earlier stages of grapevine development are all crucial to producing the perfect bunch of grapes. The annual growth cycle of the grapevine consists of several stages: budburst (or … Continued
When thinking of wines in terms of maturation, images of tranquil, dusty cellars are conjured up, lined with bottles of wines that have been resting in the dark for years – or even decades. But what does it mean to age or mature a wine? What actually happens to the precious liquid over time? And … Continued
