Vine Training
There are two major vine training techniques that each has several variations: spur and cane.
The role of Vine Training in Vineyard Management
The vineyard manager decides which vine training system to use based many factors including climate, soil and philosophy. Throughout the grape growing process, canes must be trained so they do not touch the ground. Vines will naturally propagate and begin developing additional root systems if their canes touch the ground for an extended period of time.
Spur trained vines consist of a trunk as well as 1-4 permanent branches or a head. These branches are called “cordons” and are trained in different ways depending on the trellis system employed. Cordon spur training is very conducive for machine harvesting. There are several shoots on a cordon, each normally producing two grape bunches.
Cane training involves pruning the primary cane(s) each year and leaving one or more of the previous year’s canes to fill the primary role in the coming season. The rest of the year’s growth is also cut back.
The primary cane(s) produce several 1 year old canes; each producing grapes. Because next year’s primary cane(s) are selected based on the number of buds they produce, the vineyard manager has a lot of control over grape yield.
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