To produce grapes, the vine goes through various stages of development. These stages influence the yield and quality of the harvest. Two main cycles can be distinguished in the vine's development:
- The vegetative cycle. It takes place from March to mid-November. This is the period when the vine is active and undergoes the main stages of its development.
- The winter cycle. It takes place from mid-November and ends in March. This is the vine's dormant phase.
Each of these two main cycles is divided into different stages that take place throughout the year. These stages do not last the same amount of time depending on the terroirs and grape varieties. Domaine du Goût tells you more below.
Sap bleeding
This is the first stage the vine goes through after resting during its winter cycle. At the beginning of spring, as soon as March arrives, the vegetative cycle begins. The vine, which was pruned during the winter, then has pruning wounds. As the soil warms up at this time of year, the sap in the plant begins to circulate again. The sap then starts flowing from the vine's pruning wounds. These "tears" of sap signal to the winegrower that the plant's root system is becoming active again.
Budburst
It occurs between 20 and 35 days after sap bleeding. From late March to early April, buds appear on the vine along the canes. The buds quickly swell and open, revealing a young shoot. Finally, they split open. Indeed, after the pruning wounds have healed, the vine's circulation system becomes highly active, notably due to temperatures rising above 10° and the effects of humidity.
This splitting phenomenon is known as "budburst". The bud scales push out the "wool", the fine shoot from which the future leaves will emerge. This is a closely monitored stage for winegrowers, as the vine is then highly sensitive to spring frosts.
Leaf development
This period takes place during April. It is when the leaves begin to develop. The buds turn into young shoots, which in turn gradually become leaves. The leaves unfurl and take on their final appearance.
Flowering
Between late May and early June, after the leaves appear, flowering takes place, corresponding to the development of clusters of flowers. Temperatures are now higher and the sun is more present. These conditions allow the vine's flowers to bloom, later to be replaced by grapes. This is a very short stage, lasting only ten days. The small white flowers that appear during this period are already arranged in clusters. Vine flowers have the particularity of blooming from the bottom upward. The quality of flowering informs the winegrower about the yield of the harvest. There is also a rule that sets the harvest date at 100 days after flowering.
Fruit set
Still in June, the flowers wither and gradually give way to the future grape berries. This stage is called fruit set because the emerging grape berry is as if "tied" to the shoot. At this stage, the grape is about the size of a peppercorn, very firm, and most sensitive to disease. If flowering has not gone as planned, the clusters contain berries of uneven sizes. This is known as millerandage.
Leaf removal
During the summer, leaf removal is an important part of the winegrower's work. This stage involves removing and cutting leaves that could shade the grape clusters from the sun. The aim is for them to receive maximum sunlight, allowing for better ripening and reducing the occurrence of certain diseases. This leaf removal work can be carried out manually or mechanically.
Veraison
From mid-July onward, the vine's growth phase slows down. The grape berries, which were still green and hard, begin to change color berry by berry. Thus, white grape varieties range from translucent to golden, while red grape varieties go from green to pink, then from blue/red to black. Veraison lasts 10 to 15 days. As the grapes take on their final color, they also begin to fill with sugar, even though they remain very acidic during this period.
Ripening
From August onward, the grapes' acidity reaches its peak. It then decreases as sugar accumulates. The berry skin also becomes thinner. The ripening phase then begins. This is the crucial stage that determines the wine's characteristics. The ripening phase lasts between 35 and 55 days, from August to October. This is the time needed for the berries to reach their maximum sugar content. The weather in particular affects grape ripening. The cooler the weather, the more acidic the grapes will be. Conversely, sunshine and heat produce much sweeter grapes. When the levels of sugar and acids are more or less balanced, the grapes have reached maturity. The harvest period can then begin.
Dormancy
From mid-November onward, the leaves change color, turning red or yellow, and then begin to fall. The sap descends into the trunk and roots. The vine then enters a dormant phase until March and its next vegetative cycle.
Even so, fortunately, there is no right or wrong time of year to enjoy a good bottle! So if you would like to discover new wines through a variety of unique concepts, visit our website.
