- Pruning will determine the crop for the current season and the next season. Precise cuts made on the spurs and the canes will dictate two consecutive grape productions.
- Pruning keeps vines healthy, getting rid of dead, diseased or damaged wood.
- Pruning provides steady grape production over several decades.
- Pruning allows for and maintains open spaces between the spurs, which encourages dry and sunny conditions for the grapes to ripen.
Vineyard Renewal
During December, January and well into February, vineyard crews are busy tending to the vineyards. Even if the vines are currently dormant, there is no shortage of work, namely ground preparation for planting and pruning. I consider pruning to be the single most important operation of the year.
Recently, with the October fires in our valleys, we have seen the importance of maintaining healthy vineyards. They can provide a defensible perimeter against these unfortunate events.
However, vines sometimes get pulled as part of the life cycle of the winery. Many reasons can trigger this drastic decision. For instance, a virus could have affected the vines and reduced their production and profitability. Wine sales could be strong with certain varietals and some vines are sacrificed to make room for a new plantation of Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. Vines could also simply be reaching old age, needing replacement by younger and more productive plants.
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All of these reasons could lead to taking the bulldozer to a plot of vines and leveling the entire field. There are many discussions in the world of farming about allowing the land to rest by taking a sabbatical year in between crops. But vines are different than every other crop. Once established, in some cases they may grow for fifty to a hundred years. These pictures illustrate the aftermath of clearing a vineyard. This site will be ready for planting after the frost season is over, around May here in Napa.
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The Pruning
From now and into February, vineyard workers are busy pruning vine after vine and acre after acre. This is a highly skilled task, mastered by only a very few. A great vineyard worker is a key position for every winery.
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The Benefits of Pruning