What to do this Winter
In the Winery
Top off barrels/carboys, ensure the stoppers are secure, ensure
the airlocks are clean and free of wine or growth. Clean and
sterilize the airlocks if necessary.
If hydrogen sulfide has formed, aerate the wine by splashing
it in a container before returning to a new container and add
potassium metabisulfide back to the container.
Optional: Rack
the wine for clarity and off odor removal. Check free SO2
levels and add if necessary.
For stuck wines, add ProRestart
encapsulated yeast to finish to dryness.
Check inventory for
summer bottling and order as needed; corks, foils, bottles,
labels, or any bottling equipment
In the Vineyard
Start pruning the vines – ensure no rain in the forecast
to eliminate fungus growth. Spray canopy, trunks, and all ground
under the vines after pruning with dormant spray (lime sulfur)
to fight off mite infestation. Look for a week with no rain.
Optional:
Prepare for final pruning by removing all obvious unwanted
canes and suckers, doing any cordon or trunk changes/work
and taking the canes down to roughly 5 to 7 buds per can
(leaving most all fruiting cans). Once buds starting to push
and frost
danger is gone make one last pass through the vineyard for
final pruning.
Check for missing or old vine ties and replace
where necessary.
Weed between the vines. Optionally, spray
weed killer.
Ensure that nutrients are getting to the vines.
Take the last two months of fireplace ashes and spread approximately
two cups
on each vine. Potash is the most depleted element in the
soil as it is used by the plant to ripen the fruit. Low potash
will
result in long ripening time or no complete ripening. January
is a good month to put it into the vineyards in anticipation
of the spring rains to let it absorb into the soil.
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