Effects of traditional and light pruning on viticultural and oenological performance of Bobal and Tempranillo vineyards

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aim</strong>: Light pruning may improve vine yield and quality although vineyard responses are variable. We assessed the effects of traditional manual pruning and mechanical light pruning on the viticultural and oenological performance of <em>Vitis vinifera </em>cv. Bobal and cv. Tempranillo.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods and results</strong>: During 2008-2011, Bobal and Tempranillo vineyards underwent traditional pruning or light pruning. The effects of both pruning techniques were determined in vine vigour and yield, and grape and wine characteristics. Both cultivars responded similarly to the pruning techniques assayed: i) light-pruned plants tended to overcrop, ii) grape yield significantly increased with light pruning and produced more clusters with smaller berries, and iii) the oenological characteristics of grapes were slightly affected since fruit ripeness was delayed in mechanically light-pruned vineyards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Mechanical light pruning <em>vs.</em> traditional manual pruning offers potential benefits: 30% higher yields; lower cluster and berry weights; a 40% reduction in pruning costs; and production of wines with lower alcohol while maintaining colour and phenolics.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Significance and impact of the study</strong>: No detrimental effect of light pruning on grape characteristics was found, and the wines deriving from these grapevines offered good oenological characteristics. Mechanical light pruning may prove a suitable tool to prolong the vine vegetative cycle, which is reduced by the climate change in the Utiel-Requena region.</p>