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:

1. English double cleft graft
2. 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.

L'articolo La riproduzione della vite: tecniche e ciclo di vita proviene da La Badiola.