Hardscrabble Journal

Cluster Thinning

It is very dry at Linden. Most of the vines are doing well given that their roots are deep and finding enough water in the subsoil. However some of the younger vines are starting to show signs of water stress. We’ve been weeding and mowing more frequently in order to reduce competition for moisture. 

Cluster thinning also helps reduce young vine stress. At this stage of development the vines are directing a lot of energy into berry enlargement. If the vines are water stressed this can be very taxing, so we have started thinning our young vines that carry heavy crop loads. The number of clusters we remove is determined by the size and condition of each vine. Many vines will be balanced and will not require any thinning. Others may have as much as half the crop taken off. This is the case with these young Grüner Veltliner vines in our experimental vineyard. Grüner naturally has very large clusters which are routinely thinned so as not to overtax the vine.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: July 13, 2021