This traditional vine training is a high-bearing system used for wine grapes and especially table gra pes. This form was already used in antiquity. The picture below on the left comes from the manual of the Corutti family in Verona around 1375. Horizontal devices (exactly horizontal or also slightly inclined for optimal sunlight) are placed between support poles made of wood, metal or concrete at a height of two to four metres. These can be lattice-like wooden frames, horizontal poles or wire frames. Depending on whether the shoots are pulled to one side or two sides, we also speak of one-armed or two-armed systems. The shoots form a more or less closed foliage roof, Italian pergola. High yields can be achieved with this system. All maintenance work must be done from below, mechanised work is difficult.
Today, the system is used under different names and in different variants, especially in southern countries. These include Afghanistan, Egypt, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Portugal and Syria. In Italy, a sloping roof (around 20° to 30°) is most common. If it is horizontal, it is called "tendone" (tent roof) here. In South Tyrol it is called "Pergl" and is mainly used for the autochthonous grape variety Vernatsch. Stock densities of 3,000 to 5,000 vines per hectare are common. The variety of such systems with innumerable variants is shown in the list below.
In the Italian region Marche there is a DOC area Pergola named after this system. Pergel (also Perkel) is also a dialectal name for the grape in the German-speaking region. Locally, however, it is also understood differently for the individual berry. It is common in some German wine-growing regions such as Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz. During a perkel walk through a vineyard organised by wineries, it is permitted (in moderation) to nibble on the grapes (perkel = plucking off individual berries).
See also complete lists at vine training (systems) and vineyard care (activities).
Wooden bead 1375: Verona 1375 - Austrian National Library
Wooden pergola today: By Roger Kreja, Stuttgart - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Pergola wire net: By Bauer Karl - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Pergl vineyard South Tyrol: By farmer Karl - Own work, CC BY 3.0 at, Link
Pergola Syria: By Adel Fardossi, CC BY 2.0 at, Link
Tunnel system: By Andrew Teubes, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
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