Drought and heat
Dear friends of pleasure
Today I’m reporting from one of our vineyards in Salgesch, known in the village as “alte Sage”. I would like to give you a brief insight into what has been keeping us busy in the vineyard over the last few weeks.
Work on the vines continued as planned in July. Of course, it has also been extremely dry here in recent weeks. The drought was exacerbated by the mild and water-poor winter of 2021/2022. But what does the drought and heat mean for the vines?
Valais is a so-called steppe landscape. The Rhone meanders through the middle of the valley as an indispensable lifeline and enables the winegrowers to irrigate the vineyards. In spring, after the flowering period, the vines are supplied with plenty of water. The young vines require significantly more water than older vines, which are deeply rooted in the Valais soil and can largely supply themselves with water. If the vine becomes too dry, the plant begins to shed its leaves, which is visible in the yellowish discoloration of the leaves. The leaves of the plant are the most important element for photosynthesis to occur at all. Photosynthesis, in turn, enables the plant to develop further, take root and, of course, allow the grapes to thrive. In the current heat and drought, the plant protects itself and stops the process of further development. However, as we have watered the vines extensively after flowering, our vineyards have been able to develop magnificently despite the hot spell. According to the weather forecast, we are expecting slightly cooler temperatures with some rainfall over the next few days. Perfect timing so that the vines are strong enough to perform at their best in the fall. Vines are like living beings: when they are young, they need a lot of energy in the form of food and fluids to strengthen themselves and grow. In old age, on the other hand, the need for energy intake is rather limited, so that you don’t develop too much ;-).
We look forward to your visit to us in Salgesch, Interlaken or Hochdorf and of course at this year’s fall fairs. You are cordially invited to convince yourself of the quality of our wines during an extensive wine tasting. Or enjoy a good bottle of Valais wine at home. Joy reigns!
