Pre-pruning the Vines

Viticulture is an art where every gesture counts to guarantee a quality harvest. Among these gestures, the pre-pruning of the vines occupies an essential place. At Terres des Templiers , located in the heart of the sumptuous terraces of the Côte Vermeille, this work is done exclusively by hand, a method that reflects our commitment to quality and respect for our unique terroirs.

What is pre-pruning of vines?

Pre-pruning is an intermediate step between the harvest and winter pruning. It consists of cutting the vine shoots (branches of the vine) left after the harvest to reduce their length and facilitate the final pruning work. In concrete terms, it involves removing some of the unnecessary wood to better guide the future growth of the vine.

This operation allows you to:

Clarify the vine : by eliminating superfluous vine shoots, it makes the vines more accessible for pruners.
Make final pruning easier : pruners can focus on the delicate choices of selecting bearing buds.
Maintaining the health of the vine : a well-cleared vine is less subject to disease, because it benefits from better ventilation.

An artisanal method at Terres des Templiers

Unlike other vineyards where pre-pruning is often mechanized, at Terres des Templiers, it is done entirely by hand . Why? Because our vines are planted on steep terraces, making the use of machines impossible. But beyond this topographical constraint, this choice reflects our philosophy: preserving the integrity of each vine and maintaining an intimate connection with our plots.

Our winegrowers patiently walk the terraces, pruning shears in hand, to carry out this meticulous work. This manual attention also allows us to detect potential problems (diseases, dead wood) from the first stages of the season.

Not all grape varieties need pre-pruning

At Terres des Templiers, not all grape varieties go through this step. Pre-pruning is adapted to specific varieties, depending on their vigor, their shape and their need for structuring. For example, some more sensitive grape varieties or those with controlled growth can do without this step to avoid stressing the plants unnecessarily.

Pre-pruning: a first step towards exceptional wines

In viticulture, every action is guided by a single ambition: to produce exceptional grapes to make wines that reflect the soul of a terroir. Pre-pruning is a key step in this process. At Terres des Templiers, this artisanal know-how, combined with the uniqueness of our terraced vines, results in authentic wines full of character.

By choosing our wines, you are tasting the fruit of meticulous and passionate work, where each vine has received the attention it deserves. A bottle of Terres des Templiers is much more than a wine: it is the expression of a living tradition and a unique terroir.