Updates from the Vineyard - Gardening with Jonas Brand

What about gardening, Jonas Brand?

Do you already know the wines from the Brand Bros? You definitely should! But today it's less directly about the wines, and more about the work behind the wines. Specifically, we talk with Jonas about the gardening. We wanted to know what exactly this work is, why it is so important and how the whole thing works at Weingut Brand. Jonas answered all our questions and we were able to learn a lot.

Want more updates from the vineyard? Claus Preisinger told us about the Pruning and with Piri we have talked about the Harvest of the grapes.

Gardening? What is that supposed to be?

Jonas summed it up great:

"Gardening is all the work we do in the vineyard, from the growth of the first green until just before harvest: that is, removing double shoots, hanging wires, removing leaves, tucking in shoots and foliage pruning or wrapping."

Ok, sounds like there is a lot to do at this stage. Of course we are very inquisitive as soon as it comes towine facts and have asked Jonas many questions and summarized the most important facts for you. So here are the most important steps:

The 4 Steps of Gardening in the Vineyard

1. Wire Work - Insert Shoots

Once the vines begin to grow in the spring, the wire framework in the vineyard is like a support for the leaves and shoots and protects it from the wind. The young shoots grow vertically upwards and are supported on both sides by wires. As they grow, the wires are adjusted so that the foliage can always grow upward within the wires. Here, it is the task of the winemakers and their teams to regularly walk through the vineyards and hang the wires upwards and tuck in shoots that grow out of the wire framework.

Jonas: "These are two wires that can be moved, and you always hang them higher when the shoots grow taller. With every step that they grow, you hang each wire a little higher so that the shoots grow straight up. We've walked through the vineyards a few times in the last few months."

2. Removing the Leaves

Jonas: "Right now it's super important to keep removing the leaves, to make sure everything can dry off well. "

The leaves and grapes need a lot of air and wind, so that the moisture does not stand too long, otherwise fungi can develop. That is why it is important to remove some leaves and loosen the foliage. This allows the wind and the sun to dry the grapes and leaves well after the rain. Excess leaves can be removed by hand, but since this is quite time-consuming, the leaves can also be removed very gently with a machine.

In a few very isolated places, it can happen that the rain and humidity create mushrooms. However, this is only the exception here, which confirms the Brand Bros vineyards, otherwise so full of life. In the pictures here you can see the fungus (Peronospora) on the leaves and the grapes.

3. Foliage Cutting / Wrapping

Vines always grow towards the sun and preferably high up (a.k.a. apical dominance), thus the vines do not simply stop growing as soon as the wire frame stops. You can then either cut off the tips or wrap them around the top wire. We can't explain this as well as Jonas, so it's best to listen to the professional:

Jonas: "The advantage of coiling is that the longer you keep the shoot tip intact at the very top, the less energy goes into the grapes at the bottom. And that's actually what we want. We want not so much energy to go into the grapes so then the grapes become looser. Later, the berries are also ripe earlier and then the quality is better at the end."

To wrap it takes a lot of sensitivity and time. As a result, the shoots are often wound in some vineyards and in others the tips are cut off as late as possible, so as to get a similar effect.

4. Greenery

Many of our winegrowers have a lot going on between the vines, with herbs, wild garlic, cereals, chamomile and many other beautiful flowers and plants growing there. This greenery between the rows of vines brings biodiversity into the vineyards and invites bumblebees, bees, etc. to visit Pinot, Riesling and co.

But the colorful diversity is also very important for the soil: it is like a protective layer for the earth and transforms into a nutrient-rich humus layer in the vineyards over the year.

3 Questions for Jonas

Finally, we asked Jonas three questions to get an insight into the 2021 vintage so far and also a little preview about the coming months.

8gb - In many parts of Germany, spring was pretty cool and rainy this year. How does it look for you in the Palatinate?

Jonas: "Here in Bockenheim, you can also feel a bit of pressure in the vineyard. However, things are a bit better here than in the surrounding villages. The 680-meter-high Donnersberg is a climate regulator for our village and also protects our vineyards from storms. However, the colder spring has not passed by us without leaving a trace. We notice that the blossoming was a bit late this year and generally the ripening is slower. But the grapes are mostly very healthy and that is what pleases us the most. So no need to worry, there are certainly enough Brand Bros wines!"

8gb - When do you expect to start harvesting this year? 

Jonas: "Well, the last few years we have mostly harvested in mid/late August, and that was also very early for us. I think it's more of a normal year again, where we'll start harvesting at the beginning/middle of September. However, if it stays this cool now, it could be a little later."