Although this year was an exception, on the whole January is one of the coldest winter months, thus one would primarily think that nature is taking a break around then. However, this is not totally correct: there is an important date in the calendar from the viticulture point of view at the end of January. St. Vincent’s Day falls on 22 January, and folk tradition has it that on this day one can predict the quality of the autumn harvest. This red-letter day was the one chosen by Veszprém Archdiocese Winery to prune the so-called Vincent vine shoots. Of course, experts on the Felsőörs and Mindszentkálla estates do not rely solely on folk custom since the winery has deep, centuries-old traditions and much vineyard management and winemaking expertise to draw on.

Who was Saint Vincent?

We know little about the life and death of Vincent who lived in the 3rd-4th century. Veneration of the Spanish deacon and martyr developed within a relatively short period of time because there are records of this as early as the 5th century. Saint Augustine himself paid tribute to Vincent on numerous occasions and several churches in Rome bear his name. It is thought that he became the patron saint of wine due to his name since Vincent, vin cent, also translates as ‘one hundred wines’. In European culture, Saint Vincent had become the patron saint of wine traders, winemakers, vindemiators and cellar masters by the 11th century.

St. Vincent's Day customs

Folk tradition observes several signs on Saint Vincent’s Day, 22 January. One such is the so-called ‘Vincent vine shoots’. The essence of the custom is that on the day in question, a shoot from a grape vine is cut and then placed in water in a warm room – if the shoot sprouts, then it is possible to predict the quantity of the autumn harvest from the number of buds on it. The other folk custom is associated with the weather. The saying is that if it rains on the saint’s day, or there is a thaw and the gutters are gurgling with water, then the wine output will be healthy.

“Folk traditions generally developed from experiences and recurring signs observed over several years. Vineyard owners have always lived (and still do) in great harmony with nature. For this reason, they paid attention to the signs of the weather and vegetation, and the consequences that arise from them. Folk traditions and the customs associated with them also have a kind of community-building power, as they usually hold some kind of community occasion or event at this time. Nowadays, many places still organize programs on the occasion of Vince Day. We cut down Vince canes on both of the Érseki Winery’s estates – in Mindszentkálla and Felsőörs – and with this we symbolically started the year,” explains Antal Benesch, chief winemaker at the Érseki Winery in Veszprém.

The winery's experts are doing their best to make the best possible wines from the harvested grapes this year. And the head winemaker told us in more detail about exactly what kind of work is currently underway.

“As we finished in the cellar, we started pruning in December, which will last until mid-February, depending on the weather. In both areas, we use Guyot (stalk) and short-pin pruning. Pruning is one of the most important work processes. We have to do the pruning very precisely, because this is when we set the amount of yield on the vine. During pruning, work in the cellar does not stop for a minute. We will start blending our wines in early February. This is one of the best parts of winemaking, because this is when our wines are born in their final form. It’s like when you cook… Try to find the best and most perfect balance in both taste and aroma, so that the finished “product” evokes emotions in people.”

This year is also a significant year in the life of the Archdiocese of Veszprém and the Archbishop's Winery. In connection with the European Capital of Culture program series in 2023, the castle district of Veszprém will be open to visitors again from spring. In the castle located in the heart of the archdiocese, the 18 buildings owned by the Archdiocese and the associated squares and courtyards will be completely renovated by 2025. Several results of the development will be visible this year: according to plans, the Resurrection Mass will be held in the St. Michael's Cathedral on Easter 2023, and from May, parts of the Körmendy House, the Bíró-Giczey House and the Archbishop's Palace will be open to visitors again. In addition to the castle district, the Archbishop's Winery and its wines will also be renovated, and consumers will also be welcomed by a new website, webshop and new wine families. For the Veszprém Érseki Winery, which has a history of almost 750 years, 2023 will be a year of renewal.