The vintner's year – March

March brings the awakening. We sense an upward thrust coming from the warming soil. Crocuses are the first visible sign of spring. They give us great pleasure and wonder, especially after they are repeatedly buried in the unrelenting heavy snows of March 2013. In many years, crocuses can contribute to a bit of anxiety and trepidation to those growers behind in their winter pruning. This year the only thing behind is spring.

At Linden, spring's evolution is measured by environmental markers rather than sterile numbers taken from weather-station...