The double Guyot system is one of the most widely appreciated grapevine training methods, particularly suited for hillside or moderately fertile soils. Unlike the standard Guyot system, this variation uses two renewal spurs and two fruiting canes, allowing the vine to bear more fruit while maintaining balanced vegetative growth. It’s a highly productive option for vineyard managers seeking efficient yield control and vine balance.
Double Guyot vineyard trellis system
The ideal solution for hillside vineyards
Recommended materials
As with the single Guyot system, SIKA’s vineyard posts are essential to ensure long-term structural integrity. Made of galvanized or Corten steel, these posts are engineered to support wire tension and withstand environmental stress. Galvanized or Corten vineyard wires are installed at optimal intervals to support the canopy throughout the growing season.
Characteristics of the Double Guyot system
In the double Guyot system, vines are planted at a distance of 1.6 to 1.8 meters from each other to allow for greater vegetative growth. This layout enables the management of two canes per vine, increasing the plant’s fruit-bearing capacity. Each cane typically includes 8 to 10 buds and is bent horizontally, tied in the opposite direction along the trellis wire to promote optimal light exposure and better air circulation around the grape clusters.
Adapted to hillside and low-fertility soils
The double Guyot training system is particularly well-suited for hillside vineyards and low-fertility soils with good drainage. These growing conditions require a trellis setup that promotes healthy vine development without the need for intensive fertilization. The double Guyot offers an excellent balance between yield and fruit quality, optimizing natural resources and minimizing human intervention.
Pruning method
Pruning in the double Guyot system follows a similar approach to the single Guyot, with the addition of a second renewal spur and fruiting cane. Both initial training and seasonal pruning after the third year aim to maintain the ideal shape for optimal vine development. This method minimizes shoot competition while promoting balanced and productive growth.
Other Guyot system variations
Within the range of Guyot vine training systems, the double Guyot is one of the most commonly used for hillside vineyards and moderately fertile soils. Other popular adaptations include the simple and double inverted Guyot, which provide alternative solutions to optimize vineyard yield based on specific climatic and agronomic conditions.
Double inverted Guyot
This variation combines the productivity of the double cane system with the downward positioning of fruiting arms, enhancing sunlight exposure and uniform ripening.
Simple inverted Guyot
In this version, a single fruiting cane is trained downward. It’s used to improve light distribution and canopy management.
The most common grapevine trellis systems
Guyot system
The most widely used vertical shoot positioning (VSP) system in Italy is undoubtedly the Guyot trellis, adopted by around 35% of Italian vineyards. This setup typically uses Corten or galvanized steel vineyard posts ranging from 2 to 2.3 meters above ground, spaced approximately 5 meters apart. In the Guyot system, the first trellis wire is usually set at 1 to 1.2 meters from the ground, with additional wires placed every 40 cm above that.
Sylvoz system
The Sylvoz system is suitable for fertile and cooler soils. It features a permanent horizontal cordon placed on the second wire, with fruiting canes of 8–12 buds tied in an arch to the lower wire. The galvanized vineyard posts used in this system typically measure 2 to 2.5 meters in height and support 5–6 wires. Post spacing is approximately 6 meters along the row and 3–4 meters between rows.
Casarsa system
Derived from the Sylvoz, the Casarsa trellis system features a trunk height of 1.5 to 1.8 meters, extending horizontally with short fruiting canes that arch downward. This layout supports mechanized pruning and harvesting, making it ideal for moderately fertile soils. Posts used in the Casarsa system are usually galvanized and about 2.5 meters tall, spaced 6–8 meters apart along the row.
Everything you need for your Guyot vineyard system
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