update It’s all grow on the vineyard!Shoot thinning is well underway at Amisfield. We start thinning shortly after the canopy begins developing on the vines in earnest. Thinning the number of shoots each vine pushes out means we grow less fruit, but the fruit we do produce is better fruit. It also helps with healthy air circulation throughout the vines for the health of the plants and the quality of the grapes. That air circulation lets the vine to dry out after rains or morning dew. It means there’s less occurrence of mildew or botrytis growth and pests are less likely to have spaces to shelter, live and breed. Consequently the crew are out, carefully selecting the shoots to be removed. The biomass we take off is left in the rows where it’s mulched back into the soil.