Once the vines have shut down and gone to sleep around mid June the task of pruning can commence.

We usually start this time consumer job just after the Queen's birthday long weekend. It's usually still nice and sunny and so it is quite pleasant pruning as long as there isn't a cold wind blowing. Just turn your back to the wind as the saying goes.

Sheila and I have ventured into the vineyard with some enthusiasm which doesn't last long rest assured. Sheila usually starts with the top shiraz where we spur prune and I start with the white variety vermentino which is cane pruned. In the header photo you will see a Cabernet Sauvignon vine with long canes. beside it is a vine that has been spur pruned with the long arms cut back to just 2 buds and the number of these canes is reduced to 2 per spur. However if you removed all these long arms except one long one on either side of the central "V" these could be rolled on the central cordon wire and this is cane pruning.

Why do we prune then?

The basic role of this task is to set the vine up for the following year in terms of quality and yield. This calculation is based on current wine stock levels and what we want going forward. It isn't about lets get the most grapes possible. In general terms the smaller the yield the better the quality. However it is way more complicated than that. The leaf growth called foliage also has much to do with both yield and quality and the leaves are responsible for ripening the fruit. So a vine needs to be in balance.

So what is a vine in balance mean?

A wine in good balance is obvious to see when you are looking to pick the grapes in March and April. The vine is healthy and has a good but open canopy that lets light through onto the grape bunches. The bunches can been seen, not too shaded, but not out in the open either. The vine just looks like there is enough foliage and the right amount of fruit bunches.

So how do you get a vine in balance?

This is harder then it might seam. But starts with pruning which sets the parameters of what we hope for. Then its up to the weather. Too much wind, hot or cold weather during mid to late November, at flower time, and fruit set can be interrupted. Sign number 1 that the number of bunches or the size of the berries has been compromised. This means a smaller yield that anticipated. Cold weather during much of Spring and into early Summer can impact on the leaf and cane growth. Sign number 2 that the foliage that we are trying to grow wont reach the desired levels. Sign number 3 that means an uneven version period when the grapes start to ripen and change colour. There is likely to be issues with ripening the fruit which will impact on the quality of the fruit. During Summer if its really hot then Sign number 4 that the vines shut down their photosynthesis an thus stop ripening the fruit. Again an impact on quality. Cold weather for extended periods in Summer and into Autumn means Sign number 5 the grapes will be going through a slow ripening period and may not ripen the fruit at all.

What is the perfect season?

Please see our Blog of the 2022 harvest. This was the perfect season as was 2021. No weather events that disrupted anything in the cycle of the vine. With mild but not hot Summer and Autumn led to an even and slow but managed ripening. This is the perfect season.

So pruning sets up the season but its not everything. 6 weeks later and we finish just in time for the Spring weather and now vineyard growth.

Chris McClure

Viticulturalist