Winter is the Time to Prune

Winter is Time to Prune

During Winter, when the vines are dormant, the most important task in the vineyard is pruning. Pruning the vine is a task that must be completed every year to maintain the appropriate structure of the vine according to the local weather conditions and the productivity of the vineyard. A vine that has been pruned correctly will have the desired shape to ensure that vine is exposed to the sun and ensure that all the fruit ripens evenly.

Vines in the vineyard at Squitchy Lane are cane pruned, which is preferable in the cool climate of the Yarra Valley as it limits frost damage and can produce slightly higher yields. The vines need to cut back by hand and two strong canes identified while the canes produced in the previous year are removed. The two identified canes are then tied down to the fruiting wire to form the basis of the next year’s crop.

Vine before pruning

Vine after pruning