Trellising Systems

A trellis is a physical support structure used to guide the growth of grapevines.

A trellis consists of stakes, posts, wires, and other materials to support the vine as it grows.

Vertical Shot	High Cordon	Umbrella Griffin

A vine grower will install a trellis to enable easier handling of the vines, as well as improve weed, disease and pest management.

Trellising Purpose:

• To provide structural support for the grapevine
• To maximize sunlight exposure for the leaves and fruit
• To improve air circulation around the vine
• To provide efficient pruning, harvesting and pest control
• To allow better control of vine growth and fruit production

Trellising Systems:

• Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP)
• High/Low Cordon
• Umbrella
• Geneva Double Curtain (GDC)
• Lyre system
• Pergola

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Training

Training is the process of shaping the grapevine by controlling the direction in which the vine’s shoots and arms grow. Training involves the vine’s pruning and guiding on the trellis to develop a desired form, which will optimize the vine's performance in terms of growth and fruit quality.

Training Purpose:

• Helps the vine grow in a specific pattern
• Controls the vine's size and form, ensuring an appropriate balance between vegetative growth and fruit production
• Improves grape yield and fruit quality by optimizing sunlight exposure and airflow around the canopy
• Adjusts the vine’s growth over its lifetime, adapting to different trellis systems or environmental conditions

Training Methods:

• Cane Training: Involves selecting 1-2 canes (long shoots) from the previous year’s growth, which are tied to the trellis wire to guide shoot growth. The cane-trained system typically requires more frequent management. Example: Guyot system (Single or Double).

• Spur Training: Involves cutting back the vine’s shoots to short spurs (1-2 buds) each winter. These spurs will produce the new season’s shoots. Example: Cordon training (common in spur-pruned systems like VSP).

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Differences Between Trellising and Training

Example: In a VSP trellis system, the trellis is made up of wires and posts, while training involves guiding the vine shoots to grow vertically along those wires, either by cane or spur pruning.

Aspect	Trellising	Training
Focus	Physical structure for supporting vines.	Shaping and directing the vine's growth.
Purpose	Provides support for the vine’s growth and fruit.	Controls the growth form and fruiting wood development.
Components	Wires, posts, stakes, or other structural elements.	Pruning and tying vines to direct their development.
Examples	VSP, GDC, Pergola, Lyre.	Cane training (Guyot), Spur training (Cordon).
Timing	Set up at vineyard planting or early growth stage.	Ongoing throughout the vine’s life (especially pruning).