Balance: Vines

Vine balance is a viticultural concept little appreciated by wine consumers, yet one which is essential for producing grapes for premium winemaking. A vine is in balance when the leaf to fruit ratio is in the correct range. The amount of early season shoot growth should also be in balance with the vine’s reserves of carbohydrates. Vine balance concerns vigour and it can be managed by the viticulturist, with balanced pruning and water stress the principal tools. One of the best measures of vine balance is the ratio of fruit yield to pruning weight, now often called the Ravaz index, following its promotion by the French researcher of that name.