Canopy Management
Definition - What does Canopy Management mean?
In the context of viticulture, canopy management is a practice that balances the reproductive and vegetative processes of the grapevine. The purpose of canopy management is to establish the vines properly and to direct resources in the vine to the fruit. Effective canopy management is implemented prior to the planting of the vines and starts with contemplating site selection and vine density based on the grape varietal. Once vines are established, canopy management includes all aspects of vine growth, including; trellising, training and pruning.
WineFrog explains Canopy Management
Canopy management is the development and management of grapevines in the vineyard. The principles of canopy management should be applied even before the site selection of the vineyard is chosen and should be based on the size of the vineyard and the types of varietal that are chosen for planted. This allows growers to plan the vineyard and vine density based on the growth of the vines.
Proper canopy management produces healthy vines and reduces the risk of pests and disease. When properly implemented from the beginning, canopy management principles allow the vines to grow as naturally as possible with very little manipulation/ if canopy management principles were not considered, then intervention is necessary to bring the fruit and the vine into balance for the best wine-producing grapes the vine can produce. When applying canopy management practices to the vine, growers will first consider the overall vine height and length and then begin manipulating the vine by: thinning shoots, pruning, removing leaves, positioning or training shoots and removing suckers. These practices allow the vine to direct nutrients and hydration to the fruit, and also allow the fruit to receive enough sunlight.
