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| VITICULTURE |
The traditional system of planting in the area was the "Marco Real"
( I.50m x I.50 m). Now however, due to mechanisation, a rectangular system is
in use, with dimensions of 1.15m x 2.30 m
The rows of plants, or "linos", run North-South, to make best use of
the sunlight throughout the entire day.
Planting
Once the work of deep manuring and the weeding (known as the agostado) have been
completed, young vines are planted at a depth of 60 cm preferably on hills and
rises where the layer of "albariza" loam is not so thick, allowing the
roots to penetrate to the damp layers more easily.
Grafting
This is carried out in the month of August. The operation consists of making a
careful knife cut into which a single bud, almost always of the Palomino variety,
is inserted, the scion then being bound with raffia.
Pruning
Pruning takes place between December and January. In Jerez the classic pruning
system called "stick and thumb" (vara y pulgar) is used, which consists
of cutting the two branches which make up each vine to leave in alternate years
a single "stick" with eight buds - from which the bunches of grapes
develop - and a "thumb" with just one bud. The bud on the "thumb"
sprouts into the following year's "stick", while this year's stick will
next year be cut back to just a "thumb".
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