THE CHOICE
CANOPY MANAGEMENT
The Choice
What is Canopy Management?
Canopy management is the way growers manage the leaves and shoots of the grapevine throughout the growing season.
The leaves form the vine's canopy: its natural solar panel. By trimming shoots, positioning branches and removing selected leaves, growers help the vine capture sunlight while protecting the grapes.
Its consequence
Why does it matter?
A healthy canopy creates the right balance between sunlight, shade and airflow. Too much shade can slow ripening and encourage disease, while too much sunlight can cause grapes to become sunburnt in hot climates.
Good canopy management helps the vine ripen its grapes evenly while keeping them healthy. It also allows the grower to adapt the vineyard to the unique conditions of each season.
The range
What does it do to the wine?
Canopy management has a direct influence on fruit quality and wine style.
Sunlight exposure
Better exposure helps grapes develop colour, flavour and ripeness.
Airflow
Improved airflow reduces humidity and lowers the risk of disease.
Balanced leaf cover
Protects grapes from excessive heat while allowing them to ripen evenly.
Well-managed canopies
Often produce wines with greater balance, freshness and consistency.
Small changes to the canopy can have a surprisingly large impact on the final wine.
In practice
Common canopy practices
These are not rival systems but a set of tools, used together and adjusted to the season as the canopy grows.
Shoot Positioning
Young shoots are carefully arranged between support wires to create an even canopy. This improves sunlight exposure and airflow while making the vineyard easier to manage.
Leaf Removal
Selected leaves are removed around the grape bunches to increase airflow and let gentle sunlight reach the fruit. The amount depends on the climate: cool regions may expose more fruit, while hot regions leave extra leaves for protection.
Shoot Thinning
Extra shoots are removed early in the season so the vine can focus its energy on fewer, healthier shoots. This reduces overcrowding and improves fruit quality.
Hedging
As shoots continue to grow, their tips are trimmed to prevent excessive growth. This helps the vine direct more energy towards ripening the grapes rather than producing endless new leaves.
A response to the season
In the world of Aurenloch
Canopy management is one of the Choices. The Forces determine the season, but the grower responds to those conditions by shaping the canopy.
Every leaf that is removed, or left in place, is a deliberate decision to help the vine express its environment in the best possible way.
Did you know?
A grapevine needs its leaves to make sugar through photosynthesis. Those sugars are then carried into the grapes, where they become the foundation for flavour and, during fermentation, are transformed into alcohol. A healthy canopy is one of the keys to producing exceptional wine.