"Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) is a training system that is used in conjunction with single or double Guyot, cane pruned training, or with a cordon, spur pruned system. VSP is very common in cool climate regions, with low to moderate vigorous growth, as it provides Better air flow
VSP encourages better air flow through the vine. This is accomplished by keeping all the shoots growing vertically, and no vegetative growth below the cordon/cane. The increase in air flow helps prevent problems associated with disease, allowing the fruiting area to dry out quicker after rains. Excellent sun for the fruit. With proper canopy management, the fruit is healthier, but being exposed to the sun earlier in the season, encouraging grapes to ripen more evenly within the bunch. Thinning and picking: Cluster thinning, and well as harvest is generally easier, as access to the fruit is easier. The objective of VSP is to train the shoots in a vertical fashion, creating a narrow layer that provides good sunlight exposure and air flow in the fruiting zone of the canopy. Each shoot is trained to grow vertically, in place, by attaching the shoot to movable catch wires. The shoots length can easily be controlled my pruning any vegetation over the top catch wire. The target for the fruiting zone is generally around waist-high, mainly for worker's convenience as the row are worked throughout the year."
 
 
And here we have the VSP system of pruning applied to our vines:
 
 Note the Green, healthy first year growth (above) and the same canes hardened off (brown and woody) after winter (below).
 Note the Green, healthy first year growth (above) and the same canes hardened off (brown and woody) after winter (below). 


 
  Note that the vine still has a number of random canes at this point, but it becomes much more manageable for the next stages of pruning.
 Note that the vine still has a number of random canes at this point, but it becomes much more manageable for the next stages of pruning. 
 

 Fortunately for us, everyone is involved in the pruning process - from friends of the winery, to interns, to the whole staff. It’s a fun way to ring in the New Hampshire spring.
 Fortunately for us, everyone is involved in the pruning process - from friends of the winery, to interns, to the whole staff. It’s a fun way to ring in the New Hampshire spring.



