Leaf removal is somewhat new to me. I prefer suckering, but when time is your enemy you need to improvise. We started this morning on a block Sauvignon blanc. The row direction is East-West. We are just removing 80% leaves from the cordon to the first foliage and only on the morning sun side.
This is to get better chemical coverage onto the bunches to protect the crop against Downy Mildew and Botrytis. It also ensures that the bunches dry quicker after rain or heavy mist and promotes development of different chemical compounds within each berry.
This i how it looks:
Then I saw this, and I must say I think this is a bit extreme. Both morning and afternoon sun side completely removed… I wouldn’t recommend this…