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in which the grape quality and intensity is improved is to manage
the canopy and foliage in an attempt to control sunlight,
temperature, and moisture to the vines. Trellising is also used
to assist in producing the ideal number of vine shoots and
delivering nutrition to the vine. Some wine grape varietals,
such as Zinfandel and Petit Syrah, are grown without the use of
trellises. About one-half of petitioners’ vines are not
trellised.
When vines in a particular block are being removed and
replaced with new vines, the posts and stakes of the trellising
are removed for reuse. Petitioners have removed stakes and posts
and stored them for reuse. Good-quality wire is removed and
coiled for reuse, and worn or rusted wire or parts are gathered
up with the removed vines, the vines are burned, and the
remaining wire is sent to recycling and normally not reused.
Although time intensive, it is possible to remove and reuse the
wire in the trellising. For an 8- or 9-acre block it takes
approximately a week for a crew (of approximately 4 to 10 people
and machines) to dismantle the trellising, irrigation system,
remove the vines, and prepare the soil for the next planting.
The time could be shorter or longer depending on the size of the
crew. In one instance it took about a week to dismantle an 8- or
9-acre block, the vines and unusable parts were piled, and the
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Last modified: November 10, 2007