Winter Conversations in the Vines: Pruning with Gwil Cooper
- info021599
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
While the vines at Black Chalk may look like they’re sleeping through
winter, this is actually one of the most important and quietly beautiful times of year in the vineyard. Pruning season is when the foundations for the next vintages are laid, one careful cut at a time.
Gwil Cooper, Vineyard Manager, talks to us about why pruning matters, how it’s done, and why it’s his favourite job in the vineyard.
Why prune at all?
“Pruning is all about consistency, balance and structure,” Gwil explains. “If vines aren’t pruned properly, both yield and quality can become unpredictable, and the long-term health of the vine can really suffer.”
But pruning isn’t just a technical task. For Gwil, it’s a chance to reconnect with the vineyard on a deeply personal level. “It’s the time of year when we really get to know every single vine,” he says.
“By looking at how it performed last season, we can give it the best possible chance to produce optimum fruit and growth in the year ahead.”
Three months, thousands of decisions
Pruning is a slow, deliberate process — and that’s exactly how it should be. Gwil and Leah, who are both new to Black Chalk this year, plan to spend around three months pruning the vineyard.
“We’re doing all the pruning ourselves,” says Gwil. “It’s the best way for us to properly understand the vines, their strengths, their quirks, and how they’ve responded over time.” Each vine presents a series of decisions, informed by experience, observation and care. There’s no rushing it.
When the weather has other ideas
Like most vineyard work, pruning is at the mercy of the elements. “It’s generally advised not to prune in the rain,” Gwil explains. “Moisture can allow disease to enter the pruning wounds — and a cold, wet, muddy vineyard isn’t the most welcoming place to spend the day either.”
On those wetter days, the focus shifts indoors. “That’s when we’ll usually end up tidying the vineyard barn,” he adds.
Gentle pruning, healthy vines
At Black Chalk, pruning is done using a method known as gentle pruning. “The idea is to respect the vine’s natural sap flow and limit the risk of trunk disease,” says Gwil. “It’s about thinking long-term and protecting the vine for years to come, not just the next harvest.”
"We’re following the same careful methods that James used in previous years,” Gwil explains. “But this time, Leah and I are taking on all the pruning ourselves. Being new to Black Chalk, we think it’s the perfect way to really get to know each vine — its personality, its history, and how it’s responded over the last season.
Nothing wasted
Once pruning is complete, the cuttings don’t go to waste. “All the prunings are mulched and returned to the soil,” Gwil explains. “They add nutrients and carbon back into the vineyard, which is great for soil health.” It’s a simple but powerful reminder that everything in the vineyard is connected.
A favourite job and a winter ritual
Yes, it’s true: pruning really is Gwil’s favourite vineyard task. And it’s not hard to see why.
“A winter morning in the vines can be absolutely stunning,” he says. “Seeing the sunrise glisten across frosty ground never gets old.”
There’s also deep satisfaction in the work itself. “Analysing each vine and making those cuts, knowing you’ve given it the best possible chance for the future — that’s incredibly rewarding.”
And then there are the small joys. Long days catching up on missed podcasts. Dexter the dog padding happily along the rows. “He gets a good walk and a few pats on the head at the end of each row,” Gwil laughs.
