Layering of the vine
From Triple Performance
Description of the technique
Layering is a propagation technique of the vine by rhizogenesis (root development). Layering consists of burying a vine branch (a cane also called a sautelle) still attached to the mother plant, with the tip bearing two buds exposed above the soil. The branch is then separated once it has rooted. It must then be protected with a stake and a bag. Note that this technique is rarely used due to the risk of phylloxera attack.
The advantage of vine layering is that the layer allows harvesting grapes as early as the following year, compared to a young plant which will only produce grapes after 3 or 4 years. However, it is a time-consuming and labor-intensive operation, and is therefore favored on small or medium-sized plots.
Vine layering in video
Sources
- Dico du Wine, Layering (viticulture)
- Domaine de la Croix Mélier, Vine layering.
