Page 34 - Grapevine July-August 2015

Around The Vineyard

to increase organic matter and wine vigor over time. ent before. This helps the fruit avoid direct exposure
at peak hours. Looser hanging fruit also helps with
Chile ventilation, he said. These approaches, along with
cane pruning, help create the best environment for
Chile’s approach to canopy management is at a Chile’s dry and sunny climate along with its poor to
turning point, Soto said. That’s because winemak- moderate soil quality, he said.
ers in the country were at one time implementing
techniques from other well-established wine regions Ultimately, viticulturists need to take a thoughtful,
of the world but then realized that those techniques tailored approach to canopy management, Soto said.
didn’t necessarily work for their climate. So, wine- “A good viticulturist approaches canopy manage-
makers have had to adjust their canopy management ment by understanding the environment well and
practices. being capable of predicting what’s coming. Canopy
management is far away from being an absolute
The goals of canopy management have also recipe. It needs to be well understood and tailored to
changed as Chilean winemakers like Huneeus aim various conditions,” he said.
to make greater quality wines. “We are trying to
make wines that are more refined and truly show
sense of place,” he said. “It’s been important for
us to adjust canopy management to our true local
conditions rather than another country that’s done
something for years with good results but that may
not have the same results here. That’s all been part
of the learning process.”

One major factor affecting canopy management
in Chile is the country’s location in the world, Soto
said. Chile naturally has intense sun radiation due
to the thinness of the ozone layer there, and canopy
management is a crucial part of helping the grape
clusters avoid direct exposure.

However, climate change also has an evolving
effect. “In less than 20 years, row orientation and
canopy management have completely changed due
to the changes in the weather and intensity of the
sun,” Soto said. “When you get clusters directly
exposed to sunlight, you see a lot of sun damage
and dehydration. You have to be careful,” he said.
To help manage sun exposure, Soto is now aiming
for northwest/southwest sun exposure instead of
east/west exposure. By doing this, the sun goes over
the head of the canopy rather than the sides, he said.
Ventilation is another key aspect to avoid disease
and pest pressure, said Soto, noting that Huneeus
uses organic farming techniques. “Timing and
quality of the work in the canopy is fundamental to
achieve the goals we are pursuing,” he said.

Soto aims for a canopy architecture that provides
more shade in areas where it perhaps was not pres-

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