Pruning Old Grapevines, Our Guide to Double Cordon Vines

Pruning is a critical part of vineyard management especially for maintaining the health and productivity of older grapevines.

The double cordon training system used on our Sangiovese grapevines at Tenuta Le Mandorlaie, is a popular method for both small-scale and commercial vineyards, requires careful pruning to ensure balanced growth and optimal fruit production. In our guide, we delve into the specifics of pruning old grapevines trained in the double cordon system, offering practical advice for vineyard owners and enthusiasts alike.

Understanding the Double Cordon Vine Training System

The double cordon system involves training the grapevine to grow horizontally along two arms, or “cordons,” that extend from a central trunk. This method ensures uniform growth and easy access for pruning, harvesting, and other vineyard tasks. Older vines in this system often develop thicker trunks and cordons, making proper pruning essential for managing vigor and maintaining productivity.

Why do we need to Prune our Old Grapevines?

• Pruning old grapevines serves several purposes
• Rejuvenation, Removing excess or unproductive wood encourages new growth and ensures the vine remains healthy.
• Yield Management, Proper pruning balances the vine’s vegetative growth and fruit production.
• Disease Prevention, Cutting away dead or diseased wood helps reduce the risk of fungal infections and other issues.
• Improved Airflow and Light Penetration, Pruning opens up the canopy, enhancing airflow and sunlight exposure, which promotes healthy grape development.

When to Prune our Old Grapevines

The best time to prune old grapevines is during dormancy, typically in late winter to early spring before bud break. In this period, the vine’s energy is concentrated in the root system, minimizing stress and ensuring a strong start to the growing season.

Tools we use

• Pruners, For precise cuts on smaller canes.
• Loppers, For thicker, woody growth on old vines.
• Hand Saw, For removing large, aged branches.
• Gloves, To protect your hands from sharp tools and rough bark.
• Disinfectant, To clean tools and prevent disease spread between cuts.

Our Step by Step Guide to Pruning Old Double Cordon Vines

1. Inspect the Vine – Begin by assessing the individual vine’s overall structure and condition. Look for dead, diseased, or damaged wood and identify the primary cordons.
2. Remove Dead and Diseased Wood – Use clean tools to cut away any non-viable wood. Disinfect tools between cuts if dealing with diseased sections to prevent contamination.
3. Focus on the Cordons – Check the horizontal arms for old spurs or excessive growth. The goal is to retain evenly spaced, healthy spurs that will produce this year’s fruiting canes
4. Cut Back Old Spurs – Prune back last year’s fruiting canes to two to three buds per spur. This step ensures a balanced distribution of new growth
5. Maintain Spur Spacing – Ideally, spurs should be spaced about 6–8 inches apart along each cordon. Remove any crowded or weak growth
6. Balance the Vine – If one side of the vine is more vigorous than the other, prune more aggressively on the stronger side to encourage balanced growth
7. Clean Up – Remove all cuttings from the vineyard to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in the debris.

Some of our tips for Pruning Older Vines

Work Slowly – Older vines can be fragile, so handle them with care, view each one as individual, they are all different

Don’t Over Prune your Old grapevines – Avoid removing more than 20–30% of the vine’s total wood in a single season.

Encourage Renewal when needed – If a cordon is overly damaged or unproductive, consider training a new cane to replace it over time.

Monitor your vines Vigor – Overly vigorous vines may require additional pruning or shoot thinning during the growing season.

Pruning old grapevines trained in the double cordon system is both an art and a science. With proper care and attention, you can rejuvenate your aging grapevines, maintain their productivity and ensure the long term health of your vineyard.

By following these steps while monitoring and learning about your old grapevines, your double cordon grapevines will continue to thrive, producing quality grapes year after year.