Ecophysiological Responses to Conventional vs. Sap-Flow Respectful Spur Pruning Across Four Dates During a Drought Vintage: A Case Study in Priorat

This study compares conventional spur pruning and sap-flow respectful spur pruning, applied at four pruning dates (October, December, January, March), on grapevine ecophysiology, yield, and grape quality in Priorat (Spain) during an exceptionally hot, dry vintage. Although sap-flow respectful pruning has expanded rapidly in commercial vineyards, its performance has not been rigorously evaluated. The trial was conducted in Mas Perinet’s Mas Vell vineyard on Grenache Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pruning date was more critical than method for delaying veraison relative to peak summer heat—especially in Grenache Noir, where late pruning delayed veraison by 16 days. In Cabernet Sauvignon, leaf surface temperature was generally similar between treatments, except for RP-CS, which showed lower temperatures. Multi-year trials are needed to assess the cumulative effects of sap-flow respectful pruning on sap-flow architecture and wood health. These results support late pruning as an immediate adaptation to warming in Priorat, with pruning method as a longer-term strategy requiring further study.