Winter in the Vineyard

When winter arrives in the Dolomites, the vineyards of South Tyrol fall into a quiet rhythm. At Baron Longo, this stillness marks the beginning of one of the most important moments in the vineyard year: winter pruning.

Our 20 hectares of vines extend from Egna (220 m above sea level) up to Montagna in the Trudner Horn Nature Park (1,050 m a.s.l.), a dramatic altitude range that shapes both the landscape and the character of our wines. In the valley, winter is gentler; higher up, the air is crisp and alpine. Yet across all sites, the same careful approach guides our work.

Pruning is done entirely by hand. Moving slowly through the rows, our team considers each vine individually — its age, strength, and position in the vineyard. In biodynamic viticulture, this moment is about balance: shaping the vine so it can grow naturally and express its place with clarity.

Our estate brings together different training systems that reflect both tradition and evolution in South Tyrolean winemaking. Some parcels still feature traditional pergola vines over 60 years old, rooted in local heritage. Others are trained using Guyot and modern wire-frame systems, allowing precision while remaining in harmony with the land. Walking through the vineyards, you can feel how past and present exist side by side.

Through careful hand-pruning and naturally reduced yields, the vines concentrate their energy into fewer clusters. This helps deepen the wines’ aromatic expression, whether the grapes come from the warmer soils near Egna or the cooler heights above Montagna in the Trudner Horn Nature Park.

As winter light falls over the Dolomite peaks, pruning continues row by row, vine by vine — quiet work that quietly shapes the vintage to come.