Vine reproduction: techniques and life cycle
The numbers speak for themselves: Italy and France together produce around 45 million hectoliters per year, out of a global total of 270 million hectoliters.
Grapevine Propagation: Techniques
The wine grapevine has a very long history, dating back approximately one million years. Over time, various propagation methods have been experimented with, but two have become the most widely used:
- Cutting propagation
- Grafting propagation
Propagation by Cutting
This technique uses a one-year-old shoot segment that has at least two buds. The cutting is planted vertically into the soil, where it will form roots from the lower end and a shoot that develops into a vine seedling (barbatella).
Propagation by Grafting
This is the most commonly used technique today. It involves combining two vine segments, each with at least one bud. Grafting can be carried out in two main ways:
- English double cleft graft
- Maiorchina graft
The Grapevine Life Cycle
Once the vine is propagated and planted, it begins to grow but remains unproductive for the first 2 to 3 years. From around the 5th to the 25th year, the vine enters its peak productivity phase, though this depends on various factors such as grape variety, climate, and growing conditions.
After the productive phase, the vine gradually enters old age, which generally begins between 30 and 40 years of age, accompanied by a decline in grape production.
To summarize the vine’s life cycle:
- 2–3 years – Unproductive phase: the plant prepares for full productivity.
- 5–25 years – Peak productivity phase
- 30–40 years and beyond – Old age: gradual decrease in yield.