Their effect on wine and the future of vineyards
There is a lot of romanticism in the world of wine. An old vine is a perfect example of that. Its significance as a witness to history, culture, and its caregivers, generation after generation, is the epitome of romance.
ALSO…
Old vines are so much more than that, as producers of complex, concentrated wines, and more importantly, as a genetic treasure that can secure the future of vineyards from environmental stress and climate change.
How old is old?
The term ‘old vine’ usually appears on the label of a wine bottle without offering much more information. Other terms are Vieilles Vignes (France), Viñas Viejas (Spain), Vecchie Viti (Italy), and Alte Reben (Germany). The term ‘old vine’ is not regulated and hence there is no cut-off age officially agreed on worldwide to determine when to call a vine ‘old’.
What is agreed on, however, is that when the vine hits the age of 35, it starts to have structural changes in terms of developing a deep and wide root network and an established wooden trunk that can better reserve carbs… Read more
thewineofthings.com 