- Minimum vineyard age: >5 years as the trunk and cordons need to be fully established before implementing this intensive farming program
- Minimum acreage: 1/2 acre
- Irrigation/Fertilization: Standard combined with water restriction is necessary during fruit maturation irrigation. Manually according to the specific needs of the block. Soil boosters, guano or fertilizers via the foliar surface as needed. This type of irrigation reduces the availability of nutrients and causes stress to the plant, which increases the quality of the fruit.
- Pruning: Most spurs will be pruned to 2 buds, with spur spacing of 6.5 inches. Areas of higher spur density (more than one every 6.5 inches) and low caliber spurs will be pruned to 1 bud per spur. If a plant shows low vigor, it will be pruned to alternate between 1 and 2 buds per spur. If necessary to increase quality and efficiency in a given year, pruning may be changed to the guyot method.
- Shoot thinning & canopy management: Shoots will be thinned to 2 per spur. Trunk and canopy thinning (1-3 times per year). Additional thinning of secondary shoots.
- Leaf thinning: Leaf thinning is carried out on the east side of the vineyards, after fruit set. Additional thinning is done on the part below the canopy, while on the west side, depending on that season’s conditions, a final thinning is done 3 weeks before harvest.
- Canopy trimming: Minimum 2 times per year, with an additional control to be performed 3 weeks before harvest to improve the final acidity of the wines.
- Green harvest: At veraison bunches will be reduced to 1 per shoot.
- Yield target for Malbec: Between 1,250 and 1,700 kg/acre, depending on weather and varietal. Green harvest will be performed as needed.
- Approx farming hours: 785
