Sunlight into wine

Blog contributed by Sherah Schuessler, Rustic Spur Vineyards, Fredericksburg, TX

Editor’s Note: Our readers represent a broad range of audiences, from Consumers who are learning about Texas wine, to Advocates who share many stories to help others learn about Texas wine, to Industry members that work in wineries, vineyards, restaurants or hospitality, and Policymakers across Texas. Our TWG blog brings stories about what is happening NOW in Texas wine to all these audiences! Enjoy!

What’s Happening in the Vineyard?

Vineyard canopy management serves several purposes. Most attribute the action to aesthetic appeal or disease management. But look to the sun and vineyard system as a whole and you will find a beautiful and rhythmic relationship.

By March you have finished Spring pruning in the vineyard. Excitement grows as buds start to pop and soon 1….2…. and 3 leaves make their way to the surface, soaking in every bit of sunshine. Every season it seems as though we go from admiring these tiny warriors and then overnight you have 12-inch-long shoots coming out from every direction of the cordons. That tiny break you were gifted after pruning is now over and time to get the suckers off the trucks and clean out the canopy for a more balanced and efficient vine.

Canopy management strategies are most often utilized to achieve these goals:

• Pest management
• Mildew/disease management
• Spray coverage
• Heat mitigation
• Sunburn protection
• Fruit quality
• Fruit Ripening
• Less work at harvest on leaf thinning (If hand harvesting)

When the task is tackled at the correct time you can really increase your spray coverage to the center of the canopy. This can aid in fewer passes in the vineyard with higher fungicide efficacy. In turn, lowering your overall management costs when it comes to fungicides and insecticides. With greater air flow the vines can naturally air out through a cross breeze making the environment less suitable for mildews.

In Texas, we know that summer means HEAT. Some seasons see a few days with triple digit temperatures and some seasons see weeks of triple digit temps back-to-back. We like to air on the side of caution because you truly don’t know what each season brings until you are in the thick of it. Planning in April and May can save you some heartache and potential overwatering in the June and July. By changing the microclimate of the canopy, you can help the vines keep the fruit cool the assist in a more even ripening resulting in higher quality fruit at harvest.

While all of these factors are important to a well-managed vineyard with quality fruit, the real attraction is the effect a balanced canopy has on your future crops. By maintaining a balanced canopy, you can allow just the right amount of sunlight in to cast your “Futures Bet” on next season. Your vines are already preparing for carbohydrate storage to get them through the harvest, and ultimately winter to survive another season. Sunlight plays a major role in this crucial task for vine survival. Getting adequate sunlight to the leaves of the inner canopy will fuel the carbohydrate storage for shoots that are in the best position on the cordon.

Just remember, when the shoot thinning becomes monotonous and tiresome, you are preparing for a quality yield this season and future seasons.

We should ALL remember the planning and hard work that goes into a vineyard when you visit or open a bottle of Texas wine, and raise a glass to the amazing vineyard teams across Texas that brought you those gorgeous grapes!