How to Prune Grapes for Wine Production

Grape vines can be grown for wine production or for the pleasure of their aesthetic beauty, but either way, one vine can produce several bushels of fruit each year. One of the key aspects of growing grapes for wine production is the pruning process, since no vine can produce fruit well if it isn't pruned in the first place. The grape vine should be grown on a stake or trellis, which allows you to separate the weak vines from the strong ones and prune accordingly.

Bypass pruners
Mallet
Plant ties
Wooden stake, 4 to 5 feet tall

Instructions

- 1
  Do not attempt to prune any wine grape vines during the first year of growth until the winter, so it can establish strong, deep roots. It will also make the plant easier to prune in the future, since you can become familiar with the growing pattern of the vine.
- 2
  Distinguish the strongest looking cane during the first year's winter, and prune back all the other canes surrounding this one to the base. This assists in directing much needed nutrients to the main cane.
- 3
  Dig a hole 7 to 9 inches deep right next to the grapevine's base for a stake to provide the vine with added support. Pound the stake into the ground with the mallet. Tie the main cane to the stake with plant ties.
- 4
  Allow the canes and vines surrounding the main cane to grow outward and up, until spring of the second growing year. At this time, separate the two strongest cane growing from either side of the main one. Prune back all side shoots from the main trunk except for these two canes. Tie the larger vines to the stake and pinch back the smaller ones to encourage training.
- 5
  Prune back the top of the main grape vine trunk during the second year's summer once it reaches the desired height to encourage new side growth.
- 6
  Prune back all of the three main canes' offshoots during the winter season of the second year to establish the basic framework of the grape vine.
- 7
  Let the grape vine thrive during the third year's spring and summer seasons, only pruning away dead, broken or diseased branches, as well as excessive growth, to keep the basic framework.
- 8
  Prune back the two main branches during the third winter to leave 12 buds (each bud will have one to two leaf joints, otherwise known as renewal buds) on each branch. This will ensure grapes during the fourth growing season.
- 9
  Continue to prune with this method for the rest of the grapevine's life. Every year, allow one more bud to grow on the tip of the main branches on top of the 12 renewal buds. This equals about two new buds per year, which encouraged the grape vine to branch out and produce more grapes every year.

How to Pick Concord Grapes

How do I Prune Domestic Grapevines?

Growing Grapes