A Little Peep into the Winters at The Winery AT Bull Run

Winter is that time in the year when the nature goes to sleep. It is the time when the air becomes cold and still and the nature catches its breath before jumping back to life in the spring time. During this time of winters even the vineyards experience a time of dormancy. However while the grapevines are sleeping the winery is abuzz with all the wondrous activities and events. It is the beginning of our annual cycle and a steady stream of events keep the tasting room humming during the colder months. When you visit the winery, your first tryst with the wine begins when the bottle is poured. However there is a meticulous process that leads to the tasting experience long before the flavor reaches your taste buds. Let us have a peak into what happens at the winery during the winter months. 

The commencement of the cycle

Just like all the other plants the grape vines also become dormant during the winter months but it is at this time that an yearly cycle begins in the vineyard. The plant's energy has moved to the roots to wait for the spring. At the time when the last year's leaves were still green, the plant stockpiled carbohydrate reserves that developed through photosynthesis. It hoards those reserves in its woody trunk and roots saving it for the spring when the vines would wake and would need this essential source of energy.

Another thing to note here is that this is the right time to prune the vines when 95% of the previous year's growth is removed. Carefully that wood is selected which would yield the following year's fruit and along with that would provide shape to vines in the years to come. All these preparations must be completed by April for the coming surge of growth.

In the winery, the wine itself is in a state of dormancy as the yeast and sediment from the fall winemaking season are pulled to the bottom of the barrels. It is during these times that the excess acidity produces a slow crystallization that softens wines for future sips. Winter is the time when you can find us in the cellar blending our reds, tasting young whites, preparing for bottling, and moving the two-year-old reds from Oak barrels and replacing them with the new reds for the two years required to mellow them. And beyond the cellar doors you would come across people coming in from the cold in our cozy and bright tasting room to sit back and relax with friends while tasting our delicious selection of wines and enjoying the many activities that we have planned. 

For more details please visit : http://wineryatbullrun.com/