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Flowering Grapevines

The Phase of Flowering Grapevines in Our Capricci Vineyard

Flowering GrapevinesThe Phase of Flowering Grapevines in Our Vineyard

At Tenuta Le Mandorlaie in Maremma, Tuscany, every season tells a story in the vineyard — a tale of weather, soil, patience, and nature’s choreography. One of the most crucial yet delicate chapters in this narrative is the phase of flowering vines.

Often overlooked by those outside the winemaking world, this quiet but powerful moment in the vineyard marks the beginning of the year’s potential harvest. It’s a phase loaded with promise and risk, beauty and science.

In this blog post, we explore the flowering of our vines — from what it is, why it matters, and how it affects the quality of our wines like Capricci, our single-vineyard Sangiovese, crafted with care from 70-year-old vines.

Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, aspiring viticulturist, or simply curious about the process behind every bottle, this article will take you on a journey through one of the most fascinating stages in the lifecycle of the vine.

What is the Phase of Flowering Grapevines?

The flowering phase, known in viticulture as “floraison” (French) or “fioritura” (Italian), is the period during which the tiny, green, tight grape buds open to reveal their blossoms, typically in late spring — May or June, depending on the climate. At this moment, the vine’s focus shifts from leaf and shoot growth to reproduction. Tiny white or pale green flowers appear in clusters on the grapevine, and with luck and the right conditions, they will be pollinated and fertilized, forming the grapes that will be harvested months later.

Unlike most flowering plants, grapevines self-pollinate, meaning they do not rely on bees or insects for pollination. Instead, the delicate process depends on calm weather and the gentle movement of air. This makes flowering a vulnerable time, highly sensitive to wind, cold, rain, and humidity.

When Does Flowering Occur?

At Tenuta Le Mandorlaie, nestled among the rolling hills of Scansano in Maremma, flowering typically takes place in mid to late May, though it may vary slightly depending on that year’s climate and weather patterns. Our old Sangiovese vines, deeply rooted in mineral-rich soil, respond to the subtle changes of the seasons with resilience and expression.

The timing of flowering is essential. A late or uneven flowering can lead to millerandage (uneven grape sizes in a cluster) or coulure (failure of the flower to develop into a berry). Both phenomena impact the yield and quality of the harvest.

The Stages Leading Up to Flowering

To fully appreciate the flowering phase, it’s important to understand what comes before

  • Bud Break (Germination): In early spring, dormant buds swell and burst into green shoots. This stage is the first sign of new life after the winter rest.
  • Shoot Growth and Leaf Unfurling: As temperatures rise, shoots elongate, and leaves expand. This is when the vine starts to build its energy through photosynthesis.
  • Inflorescence Formation: The small green clusters that will become grape bunches begin to form. These are the pre-flowers.
  • Flowering: This is when the calyptra (a green cap covering the flower) detaches, exposing the reproductive parts — the stigma and anthers.

This sequence is vital for determining how healthy and productive the vines will be.

Why Flowering Matters to the Vintage

Flowering is critical for determining the potential grape yield and the overall quality of the wine. Here’s why

  • Successful Flowering = Fruit Set: Without successful flowering, there is no fruit set. If weather conditions are poor — say, heavy rain, hail, or high winds — flowers may fail to pollinate or may fall off. This reduces the quantity of grapes significantly.
  • Uniformity Is Key: The more uniform the flowering, the more consistent the ripening. Uneven flowering can result in a harvest where some grapes are overripe while others are underripe. This compromises balance in the final wine.
  • Determines Harvest Date: Flowering also serves as a clock. From flowering to harvest usually takes about 100 days. A late flowering often signals a late harvest.

The Conditions We Hope For

The ideal conditions for flowering are

  • Warm, dry, sunny days (20–25°C)
  • Mild nights
  • Minimal wind
  • Low humidity

At Tenuta Le Mandorlaie, our proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea brings a gentle breeze that ventilates the vines, reducing humidity and risk of fungal disease. Our elevation and orientation allow for excellent sun exposure, while our organic farming methods ensure that the vines are healthy, well-balanced, and not overburdened with excessive foliage or nutrients that might hinder flowering.

How We Manage Flowering in the Vineyard

Our approach at Tenuta Le Mandorlaie is rooted in respect for nature. That means careful observation and minimal intervention. Still, there are techniques we use to help ensure a successful flowering:

1. Canopy Management

By trimming excess leaves, we improve air circulation and sun exposure to the flowering clusters. This helps reduce disease pressure and promotes even development.

2. Soil Balance

We ensure that our soil is alive with microbiota and rich in organic matter. A balanced vine is neither too vigorous (producing excessive leaves instead of flowers) nor too stressed.

3. Avoiding Irrigation

In this phase, we let the vines seek water themselves, encouraging deep root growth and resilience. Maremma’s clay-limestone soils retain moisture naturally.

4. No Synthetic Chemicals

Our organic certification means no herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers are used. This promotes biodiversity and ensures a natural balance within the vineyard.

The Signs of a Successful Flowering

By the end of the flowering phase, the tiny berries begin to form — a stage called fruit set or allegagione. A uniform fruit set across the vineyard is a sign of healthy flowering. We can then make early predictions about

  • The size of the crop
  • The uniformity of ripening
  • The balance of sugar and acidity that will develop

At this point, vineyard management starts to shift toward crop thinning, leaf pulling, and eventually, planning for the harvest.

The Emotional Side of Flowering

While flowering is a technical and scientific event, it is also deeply emotional. As vine growers, we have done everything possible during pruning, soil preparation, and winter care to bring the vines to this moment. Now, we must wait — and watch. There’s a quiet tension in the vineyard during flowering.

The scent of flowering grapevines is faint but unmistakable — delicate, green, and slightly sweet, like a promise whispered on the wind. Walking through the vineyard during flowering is a moving experience. The vines seem to hum with possibility.

The Connection to Wine Quality

For our estate wine Capricci, which comes from carefully tended, low-yielding, 70-year-old vines, flowering is especially critical. These old vines don’t produce many clusters — so every flower matters.

A poor flowering year might reduce our production but could also lead to higher concentration in the few grapes that do form. In this way, flowering not only affects quantity but also flavor intensity, tannin development, and the overall structure of the wine.

This delicate balance is what makes vintage variation such a hallmark of fine wines. When you taste Capricci, you’re tasting the legacy of flowering from months earlier.

Risks and Challenges

Despite our best efforts, flowering is still at the mercy of the weather. Here are some common challenges

  • Rain: Can wash away pollen and encourage fungal diseases.
  • Wind: Can physically damage flowers or disrupt pollination.
  • Cold Snaps: Temperatures below 15°C can halt flowering.
  • Excessive Heat: Over 30°C can desiccate flowers and reduce fruit set.

As climate variability increases, predicting and managing these risks becomes more complex. At Tenuta Le Mandorlaie, we continue to adapt, using weather stations, soil probes, and phenological tracking to make the best decisions for our vines.

Looking Ahead

Once flowering ends, the vineyard enters fruit set and then veraison (color change), followed by the final ripening of the grapes. But it is in the flowering phase that the vintage is born.

Flowering is not just a phase — it’s a pivotal moment where nature declares its intention. Will this be a generous year or a scarce one? Will the grapes be powerful or elegant? As the vines bloom, so too do our hopes for the coming harvest.

A Celebration of Nature’s Rhythm

At Tenuta Le Mandorlaie, the flowering of our vines is a celebration. It is a natural performance — subtle, precise, and fleeting. It reminds us of the rhythm that governs all life in the vineyard and of our role as stewards, not masters, of this land.

We invite you to stay connected with our seasonal updates, visit our vineyard, or experience the taste of our wines, which begin with these humble blossoms. Because in every glass of Capricci our oak aged single vineyard, limited batch IGT Toscana red wine, there is a story that starts here — with flowering vines, kissed by the sun of Maremma.

Capricci, Our Oak aged, limited batch IGT Toscana Wine