A note (♫) about vine pruning
Is the scenery of the Champagne vineyards going to change after being awarded “World Heritage” by UNESCO?
The appellation Champagne currently recognizes 4 pruning techniques (tailles): the taille Chablis, the taille Cordon de Royat, the taille Guyot and the taille Vallée de la Marne (exclusively for the Meunier grape variety).
However, a different taille, can be seen in some experimental vineyards in the region. The style is known as the “taille à Lyre” which takes its name from the musical instrument. It has the form of a “Y” with the plant sitting between two rows of trellising and the vines are trained to leave a central void to give the grapes greater exposure.
The technique is applied in other French wine regions, in particular the Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Jura. It will be interesting to see if the long-legged tractors (enjambeurs) will be adapted to work in this type of vineyard.
We shall see.
