VINEYARD MANAGEMENT - FIELD EXPERIENCE

VINEYARD MANAGEMENT - FIELD EXPERIENCE

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Our Vineyard Management class met on May 9, 2009 at DuCard Vineyards in Madison County. This class was the second in a series of classes that takes students through the entire growing season. Our instructor and host was Scott Elliff, owner of DuCard Vineyards.

In this class, students adopt a row of vines for the entire growing season and are responsible for managing and maintaining an assigned section of a working vineyard. Students learn the techniques for caring for healthy vines and they learn the critical decisions a vineyard manager must make to maintain healthy vines.

We last met in March. Our task then was dormant pruning. This week, our task was shoot thinning and trunk cleaning. Shoot thinning is essential to the production of better grapes. When done early in the season, shoot thinning prevents the vine from putting too much energy into growing excess shoots and foliage. It allows the vine to put its energy into the grape clusters. Thinning also:

1. 
   
   Reduces total yield


2. 
   
   Helps maintain an ideal canopy by allowing good air circulation and sunlight exposure


3. 
   
   Keeps the canopy open for a more effective spray program.

The trellis system used at DuCard Vineyards is the Geneva Double Curtain (GDC). This system creates two rows of canopy from one. The shoots are positioned outward and downward.

Here are some pictures from class.

This will be our last class for a few weeks. We pick up again on June 6th at DuCard Vineyards. I'll try to keep up with the weekly posts.

For more information on DuCard Vineyards and their wines, visit their website, http://www.ducardvineyards.com.

Cheers!

Greg