This vine training (also known as reverse culture) is part of the larger group of cordon systems. It was developed in the 1960s, primarily in Austria. The fruiting shoots are trained from top to bottom instead of from bottom to top. As they are not tied, the summer shoots hang downwards after reaching a certain length due to the weight of the grapes.
The structure of the support system is limited to a wire frame with a strong wire at the height of the cordon and correspondingly high support stakes for each vine. The cordons are raised to a height of 1.6 to 1.8 metres so that the fruit shoots can grow downwards to a sufficient length and do not lie on the ground. The drooping shoots can lead to the formation of bells and thus to foliage thickening. The growth of the shoots is directed downwards. This ensures a better distribution of nutrients in the plant.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“