What is the term for removing all the shoots from the previous harvest?

The term for removing all the shoots from the previous harvest is renewal pruning. This practice is critical in grapevine management, particularly for maintaining the health and productivity of the plant. Renewal pruning involves cutting back the previous year's growth to encourage new shoots to emerge from the vine, which ultimately helps to keep the canopy open and allows for better air circulation and sunlight penetration.

This method can lead to improved fruit quality as it focuses the plant's energy on newer growth, which will produce fruit in the upcoming season. By reducing the number of older shoots, the vine can rejuvenate and promote optimal growth conditions for the next cycle of fruit production.

Other terms listed, like canopy management, winter pruning, and fruit thinning, serve different purposes in vineyard management. Canopy management focuses on cultivating the grapevine’s leaf area for optimum light exposure and air flow but does not specifically refer to the removal of last season’s shoots. Winter pruning is the process of trimming the vine during its dormant season but does not necessarily mean all previous shoots are removed. Fruit thinning involves selectively removing some developing fruits to enhance quality rather than focusing on the structural aspects of the vine itself. Thus, renewal pruning specifically captures the intent of removing all previous shoots.