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When establishing a vineyard, proper site preparation is fundamental.
Site preparation includes several operations, namely: slope terracing, soil tillage, fertilization and soil amendments, and vineyard staking.
Sites with slopes of less than 8% neither present erosion risks nor limit mechanization; therefore, vineyard establishment can be carried out without altering the original soil profile.
Sites with slopes between 8% and 20% may be terraced depending on erosion risk and mechanization constraints, either using wide terraces (patamares) that reduce the original slope, or establishing the vineyard along the line of greatest slope (vinha ao alto).
Sites with slopes greater than 20% should only be developed as narrow terraces (2.5–5 meters wide).
This tillage should consist of deep plowing to a depth of 1 meter where the soil is homogeneous, or cross-ripping where the soil profile is irregular and stony.Deep plowing may be carried out using a heavy-duty plow or the front blade of a bulldozer.
Normally, this tillage incorporates organic amendments (manure), soil acidity amendments (lime), and fertilizers. After deep plowing, the soil should be levelled using a harrow.
The quantity of nutrients to be applied depends on soil fertility, assessed through analysis of soil samples collected at two depths (0–20 cm and 20–50 cm).
Based on the results, a recommendation will be made for base fertilization. Special attention should be given to the values from the second analyzed layer, as this is the zone of root development.
Vineyard layout is carried out according to planting spacing and parcel configuration, which determine row orientation. Planting spacing depends on the training system to be installed, soil fertility, and grape variety.
Regarding row orientation, rows should be aligned north–south whenever the parcel configuration allows, as this provides the best use of solar radiation under local conditions. When north–south orientation is not possible, rows should follow the longest axis of the parcel to optimize mechanization.
Layout must be carried out with high precision, ensuring perfectly aligned rows, which is essential for vineyard mechanization. For marking the main rows, it is necessary to lay out the grid. This is achieved by marking a right triangle at the corners of the parcel, with sides of 3.0 m and 4.0 m and a diagonal of 5.0 m, using a measuring tape or, preferably, laser marking equipment. It is also necessary to leave headlands of sufficient width to allow machinery to turn; these should never be less than 5.0 m wide.