Vino In My Dino

Vineyard View: Pruning

November 18, 2016 15:13

Make hay while the sun shines is the theme while we are between rain storms here in Dry Creek Valley. It has been mostly dry since we had 7 inches fall at the end of October so the vineyard crew is kept busy as the vines enter dormancy and they can prune or pre-prune different blocks in the vineyard.

Pruning

November is typically the start for pruning the vineyard since vines begin their march to dormancy soon after harvest. It began in one of the small northern blocks of the Mother Clone vineyard. Since it was dormant they pruned all the way to the first two buds-next year’s crop. You will note there is a white substance where the cane was cut back. A paste is applied that seals water out of it in the event of rain and helps the vine fight off diseases like Eutypa, also known as ‘dead arm’ disease.

Pruned MC Zin

Pre-pruning

Some of the blocks are pre-pruned. As you can see about a foot of this year’s cane is left. Like the paste applied on the fully pruned vine, this also protects the vine from disease. The vineyard crew will go back in March and prune back to the two buds for the future crop set.

Pre Pruned MC Zin