Appears in
Oxford Companion to Wine

By Jancis Robinson

Published 2006

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wire, used to form vine trellis systems, along with posts. Wine consumers might never credit something as mundane as wire in vineyards with their enjoyment, yet it is difficult to conceive of how wine could be so widely produced without it. The widespread use of wire has revolutionized trellising of vines, since it is now possible to train vines to forms which maximize their production and mechanization. High-tensile wire can support very heavy loads without breaking. Normally, thicker wire is used to support the weight of grapes in a trellis, and thinner wires to support foliage. See trellis systems and training systems.