April is a month known for its reawakening effects, bringing to life budding colors after the “crying buds” of the month of March. Sap returns to circulation after pruning season and plant life returns to splendor, active once more.
There is no one specific day that marks the beginning of budding season when it comes to vines, as it is usually a question of temperature which can fluctuate from around 50°F for most hill varieties. Sangiovese buds which produce illustrious Tuscan wines such as Brunello di Montalcino or Nobile di Montepulciano, begin to sprout around this temperature, while mountain varieties such as vines in the Dolomites or Val d’Aosta can sprout at a few degrees less.
Budding season begins when the green of the first leaves makes its appearance and this continues for about 40 days. Leaves elongate and slowly begin to show their characteristic form until early summer, when the vines begin to grow fruit.
It is budding season which marks the real revival of vegetative activity of the grapevine which will then flower in May and start to take on their color and shape. This is truly a small miracle of Mother Nature that happens every year.
