Winter Tasks in the Vineyard
As the autumn harvest concludes and temperatures drop, vineyards transition into a period of dormancy. This seasonal lull provides an opportunity for vineyard managers to prepare for the coming pruning season and address essential maintenance tasks.
Pre-Christmas Vineyard Tasks
Winter preparation begins with essential maintenance before the frost settles. The following tasks are crucial to ensuring the vineyard is well-equipped for the colder months:
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Empty Water Storage and Winterise Pipes
Drain Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC) and dolavs to prevent algae growth and frost damage. Turn off water supplies in and around the vineyard and ensure pipes are insulated against freezing temperatures. -
Sprayer Maintenance
Detach main pipes from sprayers, fill the pump with a 50:50 antifreeze-water mixture, and run the system until the mixture reaches the nozzles. If spraying equipment is due it’s MOT, then ensure this is booked in a timely fashion before it is required next season. -
Weather Sensor Upkeep
Refill the wet bulb reservoirs on weather sensors to maintain accuracy during winter. -
Equipment and Machinery Repairs
Inspect machinery and tools, noting any necessary repairs or replacements. Winter provides a window to fix issues before the busier pruning and growing seasons. -
Stock Up on Supplies
Order essential materials, such as pruning tools, ties, and wire, to ensure smooth operations when pruning begins. -
Trellis Repairs
Survey the trellis system for damaged posts, wires, or anchors. Make a list of required materials and schedule repairs early in the new year. -
Soil Sampling
If your vineyard is due for soil sampling, now is the time to do this. Collect representative samples from around your site (by block or variety, whichever is most applicable) and send it out for analysis. Ensure samples are tested for the major macro and micronutrients or what is called a ‘broad spectrum test’. These can be interpreted by your agronomist who can make recommendations for application in the spring if required. Doing this now means you can get the required fertiliser mixed and ordered and ready for the weather window in spring when you can spread it.
Trellis System Maintenance
As mechanisation becomes a staple in vineyard management - used for pre-pruning, leaf removal, vine trimming, and harvesting - ensuring a robust trellis system is vital. Take the winter months to assess if your trellis system is in good condition.
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Post Selection: Use 1.5 mm metal hot-dipped galvanised posts for intermediates and 2.5 mm for end posts. Fibreglass or metal rods work well for young vines.
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Post Replacement: Identify and replace damaged posts while vines are bare.
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Uniform Height: Install intermediate posts at 2.5 m, burying 0.7 m for stability, to minimise equipment damage.
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End Assembly Stability: Ensure end posts have strong anchors and tie-backs to support full loads.
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Wire Tensioning: Keep wires taut to support the canopy and optimise mechanical efficiency using tools like Gripple Tensioners.
Pruning for Frost Protection
If you use conventional frost protection methods, such as gas burners, candles, fans, sprinklers, check that they are all in good working order and quickly accessible, and train your team on their use. Spend the winter months investigating alternative frost protection systems, like Frolight, that uses infrared technology to protect vines.
Pruning techniques can enhance frost protection:
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Double Pruning: For spur-pruned vines, initial winter pruning should leave shoots 30–45 cm above the desired spur height, then trim to final size closer to spring to delay budbreak. For Guyot systems, leave canes long initially, cutting them later with care to avoid damaging buds.
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Sacrificial Canes: Leave extra-long upright canes as temporary spurs, trimming them after frost risk passes to shield primary canes.
Looking Ahead
Winter is not just a time of rest for the vines but a season of preparation for vineyard owners and managers. By tackling these maintenance and pruning tasks during the dormant period, you set the stage for a productive growing season. From fortifying trellising to strategic pruning for frost protection, winter work ensures a healthy vineyard ready to face the challenges of spring.
Plan ahead, act methodically, and let your vines thrive, one vine at a time.
