Vineyards in their first, second, and third years must be trained to produce optimal fruit. Training varies from year to year and is dependent on the trellis style. The following information explains how we train our vineyards using either a California Sprawl or Vertical Shoot Positioned trellis system. Remember, terroir has a great deal to do with how grapes grow. The methods described below work in our location in Saratoga, California, but they may have to be modified to work where your vineyard is planted.

First Year

After planting, allow vines to grow without pruning or training. All growth will be pruned away in the second year, so training at this stage is a waste of time. The goal here is to promote root growth. Use grow tubes, if possible, to help promote growth. As vines grow out of the tubes, tie or support them with trellis wire. Remember, all growth that develops will be removed the following spring. Water and fertilize regularly.

Second Year

Prune away all growth from previous year, leaving only two buds on one spur. Re-install the grow tube. When longest shoot has grown out of the top of the grow tube, prune away all shoots except the main (longest) shoot. Leave the grow tube in place. When main shoot develops to at least thediameter of a pencil, cut shoot just above the fruiting trellis wire. Remove grow tube and tie vine to stake at 12-inch intervals.
As lateral side shoots appear, train two top laterals along trellis wires, leaving two additional shoots as backups should the top ones break or fail. Remove all lower shoots to promote growth of the two top shoots. Remove backups after laterals are 24 inches long unless you will be cane pruning your vines. Leave the backups if cane pruning next year. Remove any grape clusters that appear. Water and fertilize regularly.

Third Year

If shoots trained along trellis wire are of sufficient size, remove all secondary shoots and allow to develop as a fourth-year vineyard. If top shoots trained last year are not the size of a pencil, prune shoot back to two buds and retrain down the fruiting trellis wire. Remove all lower shoots from vine trunk. Water and fertilize regularly. Whether you want to keep the grapes or not is entirely your call.Removing the grapes will help the vines develop. However, most of us want to make wine from the grapes that form. Our vineyards have suffered no adverse effects from leaving third year grapes for winemaking purposes.