Vineyard: the vine man and the art of pruning

With pruning we shape the vine: to be able to work comfortably and for the grapes to ripen caressed by the sun and the wind. It also serves to regulate production: at Cava Guilera we are protected by the DO Cava and our vineyards are intended to produce Guarda Superior cavas. The cavas from Guarda Superior [Reserva, Gran Reserva and Paraje Calificado] express the maximum quality of cava and production is limited to 10,000 kg/Ha.

The rainfall in 2020 has been generous, the vineyard has good water reserves and the cold of winter is good for the vineyard to rest. The climate is different every year, which we already like, since this uniqueness is what marks the character of our aging cavas. Let's not forget that at Cava Guilera we never irrigate the vineyards, which are dry and therefore 100% sustainable. Nature marks the climate, and also the differences and nuances of each vintage.

After pruning, we will carve the branches and use them as fertilizer for the soil. Then we will plow, to aerate the land, and we will leave the vineyard ready for the new vegetative cycle to begin. The new cycle will begin in mid-March, with the weeping of the vineyard. The weeping of the vineyard tells us that the vine has awakened from its winter lethargy: the saba begins to flow again and weeps through the wounds caused by pruning. It is an extraordinary moment.

These days we are pruning an old Xarel·lo vineyard that is over 70 years old. Pruning a vineyard with so much history is a pleasure: large, twisted vines with a lot of personality. They have seen droughts, hailstorms, mildew... but they are still there, impassive. They are less productive but of great quality and we must preserve them. They have been planted by our grandparents and are the history and life of different generations. It is good to connect youth with old age.