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/
