The
annual growth cycle of grapevines is the process that takes place in the vineyard each year, beginning with
bud break in the spring and culminating in leaf fall in autumn followed by winter
dormancy. From a
winemaking perspective, each step in the process plays a vital role in the development of
grapes with ideal characteristics for making
wine.
Viticulturalists and vineyard managers monitor the effect of climate,
vine disease and pests in facilitating or impeding the vines progression from bud break,
flowering,
fruit set,
veraison,
harvesting, leaf fall and dormancy-reacting if need be with the use of viticultural practices like
canopy management,
irrigation,
vine training and the use of
agrochemicals. The stages of the annual growth cycle usually become observable within the first year of a vine's life. The amount of time spent at each stage of the growth cycle depends on a number of factors-most notably the type of climate (warm or cool) and the characteristics of the
grape variety.