What Happens in a Winery During the Winter?
There’s a lot of talk about what happens in a winery during summer and Fall, aka harvest! But, you might be wondering – what happens in a winery during the winter? Winery operations during the winter months can vary depending on the region, climate, and winemaking practices. No matter what, there is always something to do at the winery.
Let’s explore all the things winemakers and the winery staff are up to during the winter months!
What Happens in a Winery During the Winter?
Winter Pruning
Winter is a crucial time for vineyard maintenance. Pruning takes place during the dormant season to shape the vines, control yields, and promote healthy grape development in the upcoming growing season.
Harvest…for Ice Wine!
In regions where temperatures drop low enough, wineries may engage in harvesting grapes for ice wine or eiswine (in German). Grapes are left on the vines until they freeze, concentrating sugars, acids, and flavors, resulting in a sweet and flavorful wine.
Cover Cropping
Some wineries practice cover cropping during winter. Cover crops, such as clover or rye grass, can be planted between vine rows to prevent erosion, improve soil health, and enhance overall vineyard sustainability. It’s the natural way to keep vines healthy, and has been done for centuries!
Vineyard Maintenance
Winter is a time for general vineyard maintenance, including repairing trellis systems, replacing damaged posts, and attending to any infrastructure issues. This ensures that the vineyard is in optimal condition for the next growing season.
One common maintenance responsibility is to conduct soil analysis and amend the soil during the winter months. This involves adding nutrients or organic matter to enhance soil fertility and provide a healthy environment for the vines.
Barrel Maintenance
In the cellar, winemakers may focus on tasks such as racking (transferring wine from one barrel to another), topping off barrels to minimize oxidation, and general cellar maintenance. This ensures that the wines age properly and remain in good condition.
Specialty Wine Production
Some wineries may produce specialty or ice wines during the winter. Grapes are left on the vines to freeze (like ice wine mentioned above), and grapes are left to air dry which will soon turn into concentrated and delicious dessert wines (also known as passito wines) all need to be tended to during the winter months. Also, the cooler temperatures make it easier to preserve the brightness and acidity in these wines as well, resulting in a unique and sweet wine.
Blending and Bottling
Winter means time for winemakers to begin blending wines from the previous harvest. This will vary from winery to winery. Blending allows them to create well-balanced and harmonious wines by combining different varietals or batches. Just like blending, bottling may start in the winter as well depending on the wine. It can also be bottling time for previous vintages that were still resting barrel, and are ready to be released.
Tasting Room Events
While outdoor activities in the vineyard may slow down, many wineries still host events and tastings in their indoor facilities or tasting rooms. Winter-themed events or wine club gatherings can be popular during this season.
Travel!
What happens in a winery during the winter can sometimes be nothing… for a brief period! During the winter, many winemakers travel to sell their wine! If a winery’s bottles are distributed nationally or internationally, the winter time is an optimal period to visit and present their new and old vintages to potential and current customers. And, if the winery permits, winemakers and staff may be able to also take a little vacation.
Wine Education
Wineries might use the quieter winter months to provide education and training for their staff. This can include tastings, seminars, and discussions about the winemaking process.
Planning for the Next Vintage
Winemakers and vineyard managers often use the winter as a time for planning and strategizing. This may involve reviewing data from the previous vintage, ordering necessary supplies, and making decisions about vineyard practices for the upcoming growing season.
As you can see, a winery is very busy during the winter. Sure, it’s nothing compared to the harvest season. But, there is still plenty to do! It’s important to note that the activities can vary widely depending on the winery’s location, the grape varieties grown, and the specific winemaking practices employed by the winemaker. Regardless, we hope that this post answered your question about what happens in a winery during the winter.
