Summer in the vineyard at Ampeleia: preparing for harvest between vineyard, cellar and ripening

After flowering and fruit set, the vines continue to grow while the fruit softens, changes colour and accumulates sugar. Shoot thinning, leaf removal, hedging and occasional crop thinning regulate canopy density, circulation and light. Leaf removal is timed carefully to avoid late exposure and sunburn, especially in warm, dry parcels.

The cellar team uses the weeks before harvest for cleaning, maintenance and organisation of the grape-reception and winemaking areas. New seasonal team members also arrive to learn and participate. Following a rainy winter, the vines entered the described season healthy and vigorous, with strong water reserves; the remaining work centred on controlling vigour, maintaining airy clusters and tracking ripening day by day.