Natural Infusions to Support the Vineyard

At Ossian, we work with very old vines, some of them pre-phylloxera, trained as bush vines on the soils of Nieva and the surrounding area. These Verdejo parcels are part of a truly distinctive landscape, shaped by sand, Segovia’s extreme climate, and a kind of viticulture that requires observation, precision, and deep respect for the rhythm of the plant.

Throughout the fall and spring, we have already carried out a number of practices aimed at preserving the health of the vineyard: Preparation 500, biodynamic compost applications, Maria Thun preparation, and other organic treatments. All of this is part of the way we understand viticulture, rooted in biodynamic farming and backed by Demeter certification.

Now, in June, once flowering is behind us, we are applying infusions of nettle, comfrey, and horsetail as natural biostimulants, explains Javi Blasco, Ossian’s technical director. We use 5 liters per hectare of each preparation, dynamized for 20 minutes in 100 liters of water. The application is done by backpack sprayer rather than tractor, allowing us to work more precisely and carefully in each parcel.

These treatments are applied late in the afternoon, when temperatures drop and the plant is more relaxed, Javi notes. Horsetail helps strengthen the vine’s resistance to potential fungal pressure, while nettle and comfrey provide nitrogen, amino acids, and vitality. The aim is not to push the vine, but to support it at an important stage: fruit growth and the progression toward balanced ripening.

This natural input can also be beneficial with harvest in mind, as it helps improve levels of easily assimilable nitrogen, an important factor in supporting healthy natural yeast nutrition during fermentation.

This is the first year we have incorporated this infusion treatment into our biodynamic work, although it is not required for Demeter certification. Even so, the first results have been visible quickly, with the vines showing a noticeable response just a few days after application.

In the coming weeks, we will also apply Preparation 501, made with silica. Unlike other treatments, silica is applied early in the morning, when the light hits the plant more directly and its effect is at its strongest.

A Healthy Spring, but With Frost Risk

Spring in Nieva has been positive from a fungal pressure standpoint, but it has not been without challenges. The frost on May 16 caused damage in parts of the vineyard, although the work of our vineyard team helped reduce its impact. In the younger vines, we used frost fans, and in small parcels of old vines, stearin candles were placed throughout the vineyard.

Even so, with such a large and widely scattered vineyard area, it is not always possible to reach every parcel. That is why these spring and June treatments are so important: they help the plant recover balance, resistance, and energy after a demanding few weeks.

In our pre-phylloxera vineyards in Nieva, this kind of work helps us continue caring for the identity of Segovia Verdejo.