We speak with David Casas, viticulturist at Raventós i Blanc, in the heart of spring in the vineyard. With him, we delve into this time of year to understand what is happening in the vines now and why spring is a key stage that shapes everything to come.
David has been working the estate’s vineyards for four years, but he has spent his entire life connected to the land, with a deep understanding of each cycle and every decision that is made.
There are two tasks that particularly define his passion for viticulture. On the one hand, pruning —from late November to early April—, a time of silence and focus in which each cut requires observation, interpretation, and a decision about the plant’s future. On the other, working with biodynamic preparations, which are part of his daily routine and allow him to engage with the vineyard from a broader perspective, understanding it as a living whole.
From this combination of precision and constant observation, David accompanies the vineyard throughout the year, adapting to what each plot and each moment require.
After winter, what happens now in the vineyard?
Spring is the moment when everything starts moving again. After the winter dormancy, the vines awaken almost without warning: the sap begins to flow, the vines “weep,” and the first buds start to emerge. It’s a very fast and highly visible change.
Is it a key moment in the cycle?
Yes, very much so. It’s only just beginning, but many things are already being defined. Each shoot is a possibility, but also a decision you will have to make. It’s a delicate moment, because everything is very tender, yet the plant is full of energy.
David Casas working the vineyards of Raventós i Blanc
What work are you doing in the vineyard these days?
It’s a very active time, even if it’s not always visible from the outside. We’ve already started green pruning on the Xarel·lo vines, which are the first to bud. We remove double shoots and shoots from old wood, and keep those from latent and primary buds, as these will bear fruit and help shape the vine.
We’re also grafting replanted vines, as in Clos del Serral, using massal selection from the same vineyard. At the same time, we carry out the first sulfur treatment to prevent powdery mildew, right when the shoots are between 10 and 15 centimeters long.
The biodynamic room is one of the spaces David visits most often
How do you work with biodynamics at this time of the year?
Spring is also a very active time in biodynamics. It’s when we accompany the awakening of both the vine and the soil. We work a lot with cover crops, managing them so they help structure the soil and sustain life.
It’s also a time for applying preparations, especially to activate the soil and strengthen the plant at the start of the cycle. Everything is closely tied to timing—how the vineyard is evolving and the calendar—seeking to intervene when it makes the most sense.
In the end, it’s not just about carrying out tasks, but about understanding the vineyard and working alongside it.
After a few years of drought, how is this cycle shaping up?
We were coming from a long period of drought that had forced us to prioritize the vine’s survival and balance. Last year, however, marked a turning point, with a much wetter vintage that allowed the vines to recover vigor and rebuild their reserves.
This cycle begins in continuity with that recovery. The vineyard is responding well, showing strong activity, and that gives us more room to work with greater openness. Always with care, but with the confidence that the plant once again has the energy to sustain what we ask of it.
David Casas, Joan Munné and Pepe Raventós, sharing perspectives on the vineyard
To what extent does what you do now shape the future?
A great deal. Every decision you make now—each shoot you keep or remove, every graft—defines the shape of the plant, its balance, and what it will ultimately yield. There’s still a long way to go, but this is where it all begins.
