Lake County Pruning School
Overview
Lake County Pruning School (LCPS) was an immersive training program presented by the Lake County Winegrape Commission and delivered by Simonit & Sirch.
Vine Master Pruners Jacopo Miolo and Jett Johansson shared their expertise on grapevine sap flow and taught innovative pruning techniques designed to promote vine health, longevity, and overall vineyard sustainability.
The program covered four fundamental principles applicable to all grapevine training systems:
- Controlled Branching – Guided vine development while respecting its natural growth patterns.
- Vascular Flow – Separated desiccated areas from the main vascular system to ensure continuous sap flow throughout the plant structure.
- Small Cuts & Crown Buds – Minimized the surface area of pruning wounds to reduce the risk of wood disease.
- Protective Spare Wood – Preserved vine vitality by reducing desiccation through strategic retention of spare wood.
LCPS was designed for vineyard owners, vineyard supervisors and crew leaders, and experienced vineyard workers. Each class was limited to 15 participants, which enabled one-on-one learning and an opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques with others in the cohort. Classes were offered in English and in Spanish.
In response to participant feedback, LCPS expanded to include three tailored levels of training:
- Introductory – spur pruning
- Intermediate – cane pruning and young vines
- Advanced – head-trained vines
An analysis of the demo block at Beckstoffer Vineyards – Red Hills suggests that the pruning method led to improvements in both yield and fruit quality. The phenolic panel showed consistently higher values in the Pruning School rows – modest, yet statistically significant. Yield comparisons suggest an increase of up to 20% over the control rows. This gain likely resulted from a reduced number of clusters per vine, offset by a substantial increase in cluster size.
The program garnered international media attention and was featured in publications such as Decanter, The Vintner Project, Wine Align, Napa Valley Life, and Triangle Around Town.
 | John Szabo MS, Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and PowerJohn Szabo attended Cohort 1 of Lake County Pruning School on December 5 & December 6, 2022. After attending, he provided the following review: “The most critical vineyard action takes place in the dormant season: pruning. Get it wrong, and your production drops at best. At worst, you shorten the life of a vine, compromise quality, and cause more work in the summer. Jacopo Miolo and Jett Johansson of Simonit and Sirch Vine Master Pruning Academy teach Northern California growers (and me) how to prune for quality and vine longevity in the radically volcanic soils of beautiful Lake County, on the slopes of the Mt Konocti Volcano, allowing the vine to do what it wants to do (grow), maintain sap flow, and reduce wood disease (small cuts), are the pillars of the strategy. Such a critical moment in the wine growers’ calendar. If you’re not thinking of this, you’ll lose money (replanting before necessary), and kill quality.” |
Press Releases about Lake County Pruning School
Lake County Winegrape Commission Announces Second Year of Pruning School After First Year Sold Out
Lake County Winegrape Commission Awarded Grant Supporting Pruning School
FELCO Teams Up With Lake County Winegrape Commission to Sponsor Forthcoming Pruning School
Lake County Winegrape Commission Announces Launch of Lake County Pruning School by Simonit & Sirch