Worldwide Vineyards

Top Grafting

Definition

Grafting involves uniting two living organisms by biological bonding.
In viticulture, grafting is the joining of the scion (the aerial, fruit-bearing part) on to the rootstock (the root system).
Grafting can be performed using budding techniques in particular the well-known T-bud and Chip-bud ones.
Top grafting or field grafting means renewing a grafting operation on a plant which has already been grafted, either bench-grafted prior to planting, or grafted in the field. Top-grafting generally aims at modifying the grape variety of an established and productive vine.

Grafted and top grafted plants require proper care and maintenance throughout the plant's growing season. However, the overall results are excellent, and only one crop is lost in modifying the grape varieties in a plot. By comparison, restructuring by uprooting and replanting would require new trellising, several unproductive years, and produce young wines for another 10 to 12 years.