First days in the field

On the slopes above the Rhein River in Rüdesheim, Germany, I begin my internship working in the vineyards. This is my first week and there is so much to learn.

As I drive through the vineyards on route to our destination, I pass tourists and locals alike walking along the paths. In Germany, it is completely normal – and indeed commonplace – for people to wander through privately owned vineyards.

I always wondered whom these rows and rows of vineyards belonged to. A patch of pinot noir for winery x here, a patch of riesling for winery y there, so it goes.

The views are breathtaking from this vantage. It’s surreal to think that I have this opportunity to see, experience, and support the wine production process for this winery – from tending to the grapes, to harvest, to filtration, to bottling, and finally to selling (and tasting!).

This week my job is to cull the leaves in front of the grapes to expose them to more sunshine and allow moisture to evaporate more quickly, thus reducing the chance of mold. I learn that on rows that run east-west one ideally takes the leaves off from the north-facing side. At a neighbouring vineyard, leaves had been removed from the south-side as well. The result? Sunburnt grapes. This ultimately affects the flavour of the future wine. Not good. On rows that run north-south, we pulled from the east-facing side to expose the grapes to the morning sun.

As I start my internship at the winery on a week with temperatures as high as 38 Celsius, the fieldwork is particularly grueling. The slopes are steep, the labour is physical, and the sun is hot!

It is exhausting, yet satisfying, oddly relaxing, and at the end of the day, fulfilling work.