February is a quiet but critical month in northern hemisphere vineyards and wineries. In the vines, winter dormancy continues, allowing growers to push ahead with pruning—arguably the most important decision of the year—setting crop size and balance long before budbreak. Repairs to trellising and drainage are finished, soils are worked where conditions allow, and cover crops are assessed. In the cellar, fermentations are long completed. Winemakers rack young wines, monitor élevage, and conduct blending trials, particularly for Bordeaux reds destined for Primeurs tastings in April……....