Bud Break at Can Gelat: A New Season Begins
As spring unfolds at Bodega Can Gelat, so does one of the most crucial stages of the vine’s lifecycle: bud break. After the winter rains and pruning work, temperatures begin to rise and the buds left on the vine start to open. This marks the beginning of the new growing season, and the first step towards the next edition of our ecological wines.
What Is a Bud?
A bud is a vegetative structure of the vine that contains all the genetic information needed to produce a shoot, leaves, and grapes. Each bud has a central component, which gives rise to the main shoot, and two lateral reserve buds. In total, up to three shoots can emerge from a single bud.
Why Are Some Shoots Removed?
While abundant shoot growth might seem like a good thing, it can actually create problems. An excessive vegetative load increases the risk of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew — particularly when foliage becomes dense and traps humidity around the grape clusters.
In Mallorca’s hot and dry climate, the vines are already under thermal and water stress. Managing early growth is essential. If a vine tries to support too many shoots, it may not be able to fully nourish the resulting grapes — compromising their ripeness and quality.
The Role of Soil and Climate at Can Gelat
Our estate sits on calcareous, hilly soils, where water and nutrients are not easily accessible at the surface. The vines must send their roots deep into the ground to survive. By carefully limiting the number of shoots early in the season, we help the plants focus their energy on developing fewer, but higher-quality grape clusters.
Quality Over Quantity
At Can Gelat, we prioritise quality above all. During the bud break phase, we carry out selective shoot thinning to balance the growth of each vine. This results in fewer grapes per plant — but those that remain benefit from optimal exposure, airflow, and nutrients.
It’s a deliberate choice: less volume, more character. The complexity and balance of our wines begins here, in the vineyard, long before harvest.
Ready to taste the results of this year’s growing season?
Explore our wines or plan a visit to the estate.