The Ballerina System

The Ballerina System is so named because of the shape of the foliage when viewing from the end of the row. The canopy is directed upwards and downwards. The lower canopy fans out like the tutu on a ballerina. Thus the name.

This system is particularly effective with very vigorous grapes such as the Merlot here at Penman Springs. This system also gives good exposure of the fruit to sunlight. In this system, the cordon is split and runs about 2 meters in opposite directions along a middle wire. The canopy is then directed upwards on two or three vertical wires and downwards on a lower wire or wires.