Guyot Pruning
A vine training system named for French agronomist Dr. Jules Guyot, who promoted it in the 19th century. In this system, the vine’s oldest canes (branches that are generally between one and three years old) and the majority of its younger canes are cut in winter, leaving only one or two designated canes for bud growth. Growing directly from the vine’s trunk, each surviving cane is left with a spur (a stub left by a cut cane) at its base, which will eventually become the next year’s designated cane. Appellation laws may dictate the length of these canes or the number of buds they can bear. Because it can help protect vines from frost damage, Guyot training is especially popular in cooler regions, including Burgundy and Champagne. Guyot training is also used to reduce yields and potentially limit the development of disease.
