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Simonit & Sirch Pruning: Why Is It Important to Give Space to the Vine?

Writer's picture: Ugolini ViniUgolini Vini
Simonit & Sirch pruning in Valpolicella Classica
Simonit & Sirch Pruning in the Cru "Pozzetto" by Ugolini Vini

Ugolini Vini adopts Simonit & Sirch pruning to give space to the vines, ensuring natural growth and producing long-lived wines rich in character, the result of respect for the plant.


Every action in Ugolini's vineyards is designed to honor the land and the vine, and pruning is one of the most significant moments in this relationship. Since 2013, the winery has chosen to adopt the Simonit & Sirch technique, a form of pruning developed to respect the plant’s vital sap and preserve its longevity.


This technique is based on two simple yet essential principles: the plant must grow naturally, expanding into space without being restricted by modern mechanization, and the cuts should be small and targeted on young wood. Every intervention is carried out with meticulous attention, preventing irreversible damage such as the formation of drying cones, which hinder the natural flow of nutrients within the plant.


A more delicate and respectful approach that, year after year, makes Ugolini’s vineyards healthier, longer-lasting, and capable of producing authentic wines rich in character.


Why Is It Important to Let the Vine Find Its Space?


Traditionally, modern agriculture has sought to shape plants into rigid geometric patterns, making vineyard management more compatible with mechanization. However, this forced standardization often leads to drastic and repeated cuts that can compromise the vitality of the plant.


Simonit & Sirch pruning, on the other hand, is based on the opposite principle: to guarantee longevity and health to the vine, it needs space to expand. Year after year, the vine is guided toward balanced growth, with a trunk and shoots developing harmoniously, without being confined to artificial boundaries. In this way, the vine can create a strong, well-branched structure capable of sustaining high-quality production for decades.


In Ugolini's vineyards, this approach is applied with particular attention in the Guyot and Pergola Veronese training systems, both of which lend themselves well to this pruning philosophy. Both systems allow the vine to extend and occupy space naturally, adapting to the land and optimizing exposure to light and air circulation.


Simonit & Sirch pruning in Valpolicella Classica
Simonit & Sirch Pruning in the Cru "Pozzetto" by Ugolini Vini

The Benefits of Free Growth


Allowing the vine to expand according to its nature brings numerous advantages, both for the plant and the quality of the grapes:

  • Increased Longevity: By avoiding invasive cuts and artificial constraints, the plant maintains a healthier structure and lives longer, producing high-quality fruit even after decades.

  • Disease Resistance: A well-developed vine, with an open and well-aerated structure, is less susceptible to fungi and diseases related to humidity.

  • Improved Sap Flow: Allowing the trunk and shoots to expand reduces obstacles to the sap circulation, which is essential for nourishing the plant.

  • Superior Grape Quality: A balanced plant produces better clusters, with more uniform ripening and an optimal concentration of sugars and aromas.


In Ugolini’s vineyards, these benefits directly translate into elegant, expressive, and long-lived wines that tell the richness of Valpolicella in every glass.


A Method That Requires Time, But Pays Off


The natural expansion of the vine requires more attention, more time, and thorough training for the growers, who must be able to interpret the needs of each individual vine. But the result is undeniable: longer-lasting vineyards, healthier plants, and wines that reflect the essence of the land in every sip. For Ugolini Vini, each cut is an act of care, and every plant that expands is a sign of life continuing.


When you taste an Ugolini wine, you also savor this commitment: the result of pruning that doesn’t limit but allows the plant to express itself to the fullest.



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