Customised pruning techniques take into consideration various grape aspects, the vineyard’s soil composition, its microclimate and classification, among other factors.Customised pruning techniques take into consideration various grape aspects, the vineyard’s soil composition, its microclimate and classification, among other factors.

Over 150 of Delicata’s grape growers have recently attended three seminars held in the company’s wine cellars and in Gozo to learn more about winter pruning methods and vineyard sanitation techniques, all of which fall under

Delicata’s ongoing sustainable viticultural programme.

The main topics lectured by Delicata’s viticultural experts focused on many of the customised pruning techniques passed on by the French pruning experts that Delicata has employed over recent years. These customised pruning techniques, among other things, take into consideration each and every grower’s particular grape variety and its age, plus the vineyard’s soil composition, its microclimate and its IGT or DOK classification, and then optimise them.

“This transfer of intellectual knowledge has proved vital,” Matthew Delicata said. “Our growers have already learnt so much and many of those present have seen the results behind the modern pruning methods applied and the advantages it has brought to them and their vines.

These methods are not only giving them better fruit but are saving them money as well

“These methods are not only giving them better quality fruit but are saving them money as well. In today’s highly competitive world, sustainable viticulture is crucial and anything we can do to help pass this knowledge on to other growers to achieve the same, especially while improving quality, is in everyone’s interest.”

In a few weeks’ time, another team of pruning specialists, this time from Italy, will be in Malta to share their expertise with Delicata’s growers.

These ongoing viticultural seminars will continue throughout the year and more workshops are planned. The next round of lectures will concentrate on other areas of vineyard husbandry such as canopy management, irrigation and pest control.

These seminars form part of the winemaker’s drive to continually improve the quality of fruit its farmers grow; and thereby improve the quality of the resulting wines.

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