Saturday, February 12, 2011

Clueless in Coombsville.

I may not be Napa's greatest pruner, I know I'm certainly not the fastest, but I definitely do a better job, of pruning grapevines, than one of Vinoland's closest neighbours.
What the hell? I think this vine is cordon-trained, although I can't be totally sure. It's crazy, it's a mess - I have never seen so many spurs and buds left on one vine...it is vinsanity!
I suppose I could offer my services, but if I did I'd miss out on the entertainment value of seeing how this gentleman's vineyard progresses through the year. Like a good accident, as much as I feel sympathy for the vine, I cannot pass up this voyeuristic opportunity.

10 comments:

A Good Moroccan said...

Sounds like you'll be very busy in the coming weeks !

All the best, Villager

Cesar Valverde said...

Many thanks for these excllent last few posts. They're a genuinely interesting connection with the winemaking process that is usually very difficult to come across.

And for my money this last onen looks nicest. In a craggy, unkempt tree-ish way.

Vinogirl said...

Villager: Nice to hear from you. I will be busy getting slapped by unruly canes and poked by barbed wire-like tendrils, but I'm not complaining. I enjoy pruning.

CV: Yup, it all starts with pruning, the most important thing that you can do to a vine.
That last one will certainly look unkempt come July when it'll start to look like 'Cousin It'!

Cesar Valverde said...

Funny haircut never did me any harm. (Yes that is me, twenty-something years ago).

Would love to see how it turns out come summer if you can get a picture.

Vinogirl said...

I had a hair cut just like that...when I was four.
I'll try to remember to revisit that vine in the summer.

Thomas said...

It's what's known as the Cordon blues...

phlegmfatale said...

That vine looks to be in a state of torment, truly.

Lord Roby said...

Vinogirl! What a devilish 'scadenfreuder' you are...Keep me posted...

Vinogirl said...

Thomas: I am overly anthropomorphic at the best of times...now you've convinced me that this vine is depressed!

Phlemmy: Depressed and tormented!

LR: Depressed, tormented, and doomed!

New Hampshire Wineman said...

Vinogirl, I'm thinking a bit like Thomas: this vine looks like a Mandrake!