SPRINGTIME

Another season starts........

Here is a Pinot Noir vine, growing quickly and without restraint. We need to control that growth, especially those suckers that are sprouting from the trunk. Left alone, they will flourish and rob the vine of vigour as well as creating a disease hazard. So we take them off, along with some of the abundant growth in the middle of the vine, where the two arms branch out (this is known as the crown). If it is is left to grow freely, we will have a large, impenetrable mass of leaves and fruit that can trap moisture and really cause us problems. Here's what I did...

More will be needed but I hope that gives you the idea. The weather is still cool, especially in the morning, but the vines are looking in great condition. Fruitfulness is high--there are plenty of potential bunches forming--so we will be vigilant in controlling bunch numbers. The last few seasons have given us a pretty good idea of just how many bunches per vine we need to give us the quality we seek. It's not many.
Here's a panorama looking towards the south-east....