Winter in the Vineyard: Pruning, Craftsmanship & the Season Ahead

As we step into a new year, the vineyard has entered its winter dormancy. After a prosperous harvest last year - producing over 36 tonnes of beautifully ripened grapes - the vines are now resting before the new growing season begins in April.

While the vineyard may appear calm on the surface, winter is in fact one of the most important and active times of year for our team.

January and February are dedicated to careful winter pruning - an essential process that shapes not only the coming vintage, but also the long-term health and character of the vineyard. Over the next couple of months, more than 50,000 vines will be pruned entirely by hand. It is a slow, thoughtful and highly skilled task that plays a crucial role in the quality of our wines for many years to come.

Each cut must be carefully considered. Pruning determines how the vine will grow in the coming season, how many shoots it will produce, and ultimately how much fruit it can support. Done well, it ensures balance within the vine and allows it to produce high-quality grapes year after year.

Working with International Master Vine Pruners Simonit & Sirch

One of Bride Valley Vineyard’s greatest strengths - and something we are extremely proud of - is our ongoing work with internationally renowned Master Vine Pruners, Simonit & Sirch. Their pruning philosophy underpins everything we do in the vineyard during winter.

Founded over 30 years ago by Marco Simonit and Pierpaolo Sirch, the Simonit & Sirch method is now used by some of the world’s most prestigious vineyards. Their clients include Château Latour, Hennessy and Louis Roederer in France, Prats & Symington in Portugal, and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in California. They operate across 15 countries, with training schools in Italy, Bordeaux, Napa Valley and South Africa.

Their expertise is particularly respected in marginal, cool-climate vineyards - making their approach especially well suited to Bride Valley.

Their philosophy treats pruning as a true craft. Through specialist training and consultancy, they teach vineyard teams how to manage vines in a way that promotes the accumulation of living wood. This ensures better sap flow, improves the balance between growth and yield, and builds resilience within the vine over time.

Ultimately, it strengthens the connection between the vine, the terroir and the wine in your glass.

Supporting Vine Health for the Future

Marco Simonit visits Bride Valley several times throughout the year to assess vine health, advise on seasonal decisions and provide ongoing hands-on training for our vineyard team.

Their approach has proved especially valuable in helping us combat Esca - a persistent fungal trunk disease that affects vineyards worldwide. Using their pioneering pruning techniques, our team has learned how to manage and even save infected vines without causing further damage.

This work significantly improves vine longevity, vineyard sustainability and the long-term quality of the fruit we harvest.

Winter may appear quiet in the vineyard, but it is during these colder months that the foundations for the next vintage are carefully laid.

 

Read more on Simonit & Sirch here - Home - Simonit&Sirch