Winter Is the Season of Care Pruning at Caiarossa: a gesture of knowledge, respect and future

Pruning at Caiarossa: a gesture of knowledge, respect and future
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Winter, in the vineyard, is the season of care. In the quiet and rest of these months, while the vine prepares for a new cycle, pruning becomes the most precious gesture — the one that will shape the future of the plant and the character of the wines to come.

At Caiarossa, this moment is a ritual that brings together technique, experience and a deep respect for the vitality of the vine.

A practice that defines quality and longevity

“Pruning is the moment when we truly take care of our plants, especially in the older vineyards surrounding the winery,” explains Francesco Villa, Technical Director.

The goal is both simple and complex: to preserve the plant’s vitality by following the natural flow of sap, and to define the right yield according to the quality we aim to achieve.

Every cut is a considered decision. Every choice shapes balance, longevity and identity.

Caiarossa’s first vineyards and the spur‑pruned cordon

In the historic vineyards around the winery, the vines are trained using the spur‑pruned cordon system. Here, our pruning team works with great precision, leaving four spurs selected to respect the vine’s natural branching and to ensure the flow of the sap.

Technical knowledge, combined with manual experience, is essential to interpret the vigor of each vine, its reactions over the years and its potential.

Nocolino: the precision of Guyot

In Nocolino — the youngest vineyard, planted in 2012 on the slopes of Poggio di Nocola — pruning follows the Guyot system.

Here is how Guyot pruning is carried out:

• two renewal spurs, which will guide future growth
• one fruiting cane, which will carry the grapes of the next harvest

The number of buds is never fixed: it varies according to the plant’s vigor, soil conditions and the qualitative goals of the vintage.

Removal of canes: the cycle returning to the earth

The final step of pruning is the removal of the cut canes from the trellis wires to free the vineyard.

Part of the canes is shredded directly into the soil. The rest enters our compost, completing a virtuous cycle that returns to the earth what the earth has offered.

The first step toward the future

Pruning is only the first gesture of the new vintage, yet it contains the entire philosophy of Caiarossa: observe, listen, accompany.

It is a work born from the land and from the hands of those who care for it every day. And it is from this balance and respect that Caiarossa’s wines are born.

You can watch the interview with Francesco Villa and some members of our team on our social channels.