Summer is one of the most decisive moments in the vineyard’s annual cycle. Although from the outside it may seem that all that remains is to wait for harvest, June and July are actually some of the most important months when it comes to ensuring grape quality.
At Montrubí, every decision we make in the vineyard follows the same philosophy: produce less to express more. This is why, during these weeks, we have carried out green pruning and grape thinning, two essential practices for achieving balanced fruit of the highest quality.
Green pruning is a viticultural practice carried out during June and July, when the vines are in full vegetative growth. It involves removing selected shoots and leaves in order to regulate vine vigour and encourage a more balanced development.
This work allows us to:
Ultimately, we help the plant direct its resources where they can make the greatest difference to grape quality.
Every vintage is different, and the vineyard always has the final say. This year, the weather conditions have favoured a particularly abundant crop.
At first glance, this might seem like good news. However, in viticulture, more quantity does not always mean more quality.
When a vine produces too many bunches, it has to distribute its resources among all of them. As a result, ripening can be slower and less uniform, leading to grapes with lower aromatic concentration, less colour intensity and less precise balance.
One of the most difficult decisions for any grower is to remove part of the crop before harvest.
However, this is a common practice in quality viticulture known as grape thinning or crop-load regulation.
At Montrubí, we have decided that some of the grapes will not make it to the winery. By reducing the number of bunches each vine has to nourish, we allow the remaining grapes to ripen under better conditions.
The benefits are clear:
It is a decision that means sacrificing quantity in order to gain quality — a philosophy that is at the heart of our approach to wine.
This decision is particularly important with varieties such as Sumoll, an indigenous Catalan grape variety with a long growing cycle and strong vegetative vigour.
While other varieties were beginning to enter veraison, the Sumoll was still completely green. Precisely because of its longer cycle, controlling the crop load is essential to ensure that ripening can progress under optimal conditions.
At Montrubí, we work with this variety while respecting its personality, always seeking to express the authenticity of the Penedès landscape. Grape thinning allows us to produce wines with greater depth, elegance and the ability to reflect the character of each vintage.
During June and July, we also carry out the necessary treatments to protect the vineyard against diseases such as downy mildew and powdery mildew, particularly when humid conditions may favour their development.
Our priority is to constantly monitor the evolution of each plot and intervene only when necessary. Continuous observation of the vineyard allows us to adapt every action to the plant’s actual needs, preserving its balance while respecting the surrounding environment.
Every decision we make in the vineyard has one single objective: to accompany the vine throughout its natural cycle so that it reaches harvest in the best possible condition.
