Vineyard Training

The highly effective vineyard training techniques are also applicable for small rows of vines in the garden, for fences, and for freestanding espaliers. Especially noteworthy with this method: vines are trained to have short trunks, so unlike other training techniques, no elaborate trunk/stem framework is developed.

Harvest in a vineyard near Radebeul / Meissen / Saxony, around 1970

The History

In earlier times, every wine-growing region developed its own characteristic training techniques. Grapevines were either left to grow as shrubs without any growth supports, or trellised to wooden frames in the vineyard. Around 1900, the "Rhine-Hessian Training" became the norm in Germany~ a post and wire system using several horizontal parallel wires lying one above the other other ~ the "wire frame."

Spatial Requirements

The vines are arranged in rows with the plants usually spaced about 1.5m apart (for 2 canes per vine) or 0.8m (for 1 cane per vine). The climbing field, i.e., the space between the lowest and highest trellis wires, should be about 1m; for smaller arrangements in the private garden, min. 70cm.

Support and Trellising

The type and construction of the wire frames depends, among other things, on the selected training method, and for larger installations, requires professional advice. For small private garden plantings, we recommend wire rope system 0050.

Training

Selecting the right training method is best done with professional support. As an example, the bilateral cane training method (Guyot training), as carried out in the 2nd year, is illustrated here. Please refer to the information under 1st Year grapevines.

Pruning after the 5th Year

Each trunk develops a "head," which should be cane pruned ('dry pruned' / 'long pruned') every winter. Usually, additional summer pruning ('green pruning') follows.

2nd Year

3rd Year

4th Year

5th Year