Viticulture
Canopy management
Controlling leaves and shoots to manage sunlight, airflow and ripening.
Overview
The canopy is the vine's solar panel and its umbrella at the same time, and managing it is a balancing act.
Leaf removal around the fruit zone increases sun exposure and airflow, aiding ripening and reducing rot. Too much causes sunburn, which is an increasing problem in warming regions.
Shoot positioning and trimming control how much leaf area serves each bunch. Too little and the fruit will not ripen; too much and the vine puts energy into growth instead.
Sources
Sources consulted
- WSET educational materials and the Systematic Approach to Tasting — Wine & Spirit Education Trust
- UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology — University of California, Davis
More in the vineyard
Viticulture
Climate and wine style
The largest single influence on what a wine tastes like — larger than grape, producer or winemaking, and the reason the same variety is unrecognisable in two places.
Viticulture
Climate change and wine
Warming is already reshaping where wine is grown and what it tastes like.
Viticulture
Harvest and picking decisions
When to pick — the single most consequential decision a producer makes each year.