Grape blossom

An almost inconspicuous but crucial process

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Before flowering, the inflorescences are known as spikes. They look like small, branched panicles and have a large number of flower spikes from which individual flowers emerge.

Each flower is covered by a cap , which lifts like a lid when the flower opens and falls off. This allows pollination to take place and the vine is self-fertile.

Unfertilized flowers wither and are shed from the stalk. Depending on the grape variety, between 30 and 60 % of the flowers develop, this is the so-called "flowering rate". The development of the vine is sensitive to the weather: rain, cold or heat can disrupt fertility and"trickling" can occur. This causes smaller flowers and berries to be shed. Consequently, the climate during the flowering phase is decisive for the subsequent yield.