Shoot thinning — the removal of excess shoots on the cane begins almost as soon as there is growth. The purpose is to balance the vine. Here workers are working on Pinot Noir in the Lafond Vineyards. The vine has two canes, one on each side tied to the wire at the time of pruning, and each cane should have 6 grape bearing shoots, or 12 per vine.
It gets more complicated — at the head of each vine we need two canes for next years crop and two more as spurs for the year after that. Workers go through the entire vineyard doing this and it requires some delicacy. The ladies who do this take great care.
At this point it is difficult to distinguish shoots, canes and spurs but as growth continues these will be more obvious.
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