Preparing the soil for a grape plantation
For proper growth and fruiting of grapes, it is good to choose the right location and substrate. The first one should be sunny, warm and sheltered from the wind. It is worth installing a support or planting grapes near the walls, facing south or south-west. The substrate should be humus with a pH of 5 to 7.5. If the soil at the planting site is acidic, the soil should be limed at least half a year before planting. Grapes do not have high soil requirements and should adapt to almost any type of soil, but it is worth mixing the soil with manure a few months before planting.
Grape planting time
The optimal time for planting grapes depends on the climate and local conditions, but it is usually best to plant them in early spring, when the soil is already warm but the plants have not yet budded. Remember that grapes grow best in well-drained soil, well-sunlit and protected from wind.
Grape harvest
The grape harvest begins at the end of summer and early autumn, but it must be remembered that depending on the location of the vineyard and the topography of the area where it is located, this time may change slightly. These plants are harvested manually and mechanically. This has its advantages and disadvantages. Manual harvesting is more qualitative because you can select the fruit better, while mechanical harvesting is cheaper and more efficient.
The most popular types of grapes
Sangiovese
sangiovese – a grape variety originating from central Italy. The name sangiovese comes from the Latin sangvis Jovis, which means the blood of Jupiter. DNA tests have shown that sangiovese is a combination of siellegiolo – an ancient Tuscan grape and calabrese montenuovo – an extinct variety of Calabria.
Nebbiolo
Pinot Grigio – is widely grown in Italy, especially in the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Frulia. The strain itself is of French origin, where it is most often known as Punto Gris. Although Pinto Grigio and Pinto Gris are the same wines, they are produced in two different styles. Both species are quite popular, but Pinto Grigio is more famous and eaten.