What is the ideal amount of wood to leave on a pruned vine in normal conditions?

Leaving the same number of bearing units as the year before is considered ideal because it balances the vine's workload with its capacity to produce fruit. Maintaining this equilibrium helps ensure that the vine can support healthy growth and yield. If too few bearing units are left, it may lead to underproduction, which can negatively affect the vineyard's overall productivity and sustainability. Conversely, leaving more bearing units than the previous year could stress the vine, risking poor quality grapes and potentially diminishing the vine’s health over time.

In a well-managed vineyard, maintaining a consistent number of bearing units allows the vine to reliably produce fruit while also ensuring it has enough vigor to thrive. Pruning practices are aimed at enhancing fruit quality and enabling proper air circulation, light penetration, and disease prevention, all of which can be achieved by carefully regulating the amount of wood left on the vine.