Regulating vine growth
By the end of May, the shoots will have grown considerably. They are now about 50cm tall. To leave enough space to carry out all of the vineyard maintenance tasks between the rows, growers must lift them and keep them in a vertical position. Doing this also helps the foliage to be evenly distributed and air to circulate among the clusters.
It is a tricky task, since not all of the shoots are the same length or point in the same direction. This is a reminder that the vine is first and foremost a creeper whose growth needs regulating. This task literally shapes the vines and therefore the Champagne landscapes.
