ROSEBACK ARCHED CORDON SYSTEM
by James Rosenzweig, Founder Rosenvale Vineyards, Barossa Baron and 6th Generation, Barossa Grower and Winemaker
The WHY;
The Roseback Arched Cordon System has been developed to prolong the longevity of spur pruned vines by the manner in which the cordon is placed on the wire.
The traditional cane wrapping of the cordon to the wire creates strangulation of the cordon many years later, stopping the flow of sap and causing the spurred cordon to die. In addition this method addresses trunk diseases like Euytpa.
This is because the cordon only has one main contact point with the wire and allows the easy and effective removal of the cordon from the wire so it can be placed into the middle of the row for mulching or collection to burn.
And HOW;
The system starts by getting the vineyard trellis right with 2 vertical cordon wires. We have tried 100mm, 150mm apart and both directly vertical or on opposite sides of the post in order to spread fruit out more. There is a set of lifting wires 300mm above the top cordon wire and a permanent catch wire 300mm above that.
The vine can be any age to start the Roseback Arched Cordon System.
We select 2 canes and arch them over the top wire and then tie the ends to the bottom wire. This part is not new. We leave 2 lower spurs on the trunk for future cordon replacment as you would in a cane pruned vineyard.
The following year is when the magic starts and we simply spur prune the vines. Each vineyard has the spur spacing determined by the Grower considering bud numbers and fruit placement to achieve the desired fruit quality.
To stop crowding in the crown of the vine we selectively remove unwanted spur positions close to this space. This allows the 2 lower replacement spurs to grow upwards and put fruit in this space.
James Rosenzweig, Founder of Rosenvale with son Jake Rosenzweig. Viticulturist and 7th generation Barossan in the family owned and operated Rosenzweig Vineyard, Shiraz planted in 2010 demonstrating the Roseback Arched Cordon System