The Open Lyre System

A development of the Geneva Duble Curtain, the Lyre system was the work of Dr. Alain Carbonneau, Professor of Viticulture at Montpellier. It came about in the 1980's, and its principle advantages are improvement to the canopy microclimate resulting in less shading of foliage and fruit. Like the GDC, the trunk is divided into two cordons, although at a lesser height, perhaps 1.0 meter. At this level, the cordons are grown along the two parallel wires, but the fruiting canes are grown upward, rather than allowed to dangle down. This produces a lyre shape when the row of vines is viewed end-on. Unlike the GDC, it is preferred for medium vigor vines. Although an obvious candidate for spur pruning, it may also be cane pruned.