Grape vines planting in the Douro valley

The snow is gone. Actually, it didn’t resist that long, so we have no excuses to stop working in the vineyards. After preparing the soil, it is now time to plant those young and tender pre-grafted plants of Viosinho, Rabigato and Gouveio. That is what Marian, Marius and Cosmin, among others, are doing. We first trace a line with a rope from top to bottom and then, with an iron stick, we make a 50cm hole where we’ll insert the vine. Later it is covered with earth and immediately irrigated. If there is not that much rocks at the surface, each worker can plant 300-400 vines a day. Otherwise, on a rocky soil, which is the case of Quinta da Trovisca, productivity drops quickly and, each day, no more than 200 holes are made by each man.

This plantation has been pretty unusual because of the number of rocks we have to remove. Normally, small rocks help vine roots to quicker go deep and water to better drain down to a lower level less exposed to sun evaporation. But in Quinta da Trovisca is unreal. We have so many rocks that I think my father has nightmares about rocks these days!

Next steps? Install wood sticks as well spread wires to allow a vine training system to properly manage canopy. I shall come back soon with more photos. Don’t forget to share your comments.

Oscar