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3 6 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | N o v - D e c 2 015 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m spikes at the site, the wider the cross-arms should be. Some of the vineyards I work with that have the lowest incidence of sunburn have 30-inch to 36-inch cross-arms at the top. The old California sprawl system is a less expensive version, but that gives you a bit less con- trol. And don't forget about classic head-trained vines. They make their own umbrellas if trained correctly." ROW ORIENTATION Given the importance of light on the canopy and of avoiding over- exposure of fruit to the light dur- ing the hottest times of the day, row orientation is critical in achiev- ing the right balance. According to Buckland, "In general, the row orientation that balances light and heat exposure on both sides of the canopy, while protecting the fruit during the hottest time of the day, is the right choice. In most areas I work with, this tends to be best when the rows run northeast to southwest." Protecting post-veraison fruit from direct sun and extreme heat in the afternoon keeps fruit tempera- tures closer to ambient air tempera- ture, thereby reducing the risk of shrivel and minimizing aggressive phenolics due to overexposure. Buckland pointed out an added benefit. "By also minimizing light interception by the canopy during the hottest parts of the day, we are able to run our vines safely at high- er water stress levels, and ultimate- ly use less water per vine. Allowing for a system that gives greater con- trol over water stress levels – not having to water to keep the canopy sound – gives us flexibility to deliv- er water only when it is helpful. A vineyard that I am forced to water constantly will almost always pro- duce a wine that is the opposite of what's desired." Lowe noted that the ideal row orientation is "very site specific," and also relates closely to trel- lis design. "A northeast to south- west row orientation will minimize the differences in sun exposure between the morning and after- noon side of the vine," she said. "This can help in uniformity of rip- ening and avoiding sunburn. But the degree of the angle is going to vary with your latitude, and any slope and aspect at the site." She stressed the importance of considering the orientation that offers the best protection from direct sun on the afternoon side of the vines later in the season, when Kristen Lowe of Vine Balance Consulting says avoiding light and heat overexposure in the fruit zone is one of the keys to achieving phenolic ripeness at lower Brix. SOIL & CELLAR REMI COHEN