ABSTRACT
Viticultural landscapes, or winescapes, are unique. The winsome combination of vineyards, wineries, and supporting activities necessary for modern wine production yields regions that offer sojourners and dwellers alike a certain charm—a warm ambience, a memorable experience of place—not found in most other agricultural landscapes. According to Hart, rural landscapes are complex reflections of a combination of the topographic expression of the land surface itself, the kind of plants (both natural and domesticated) that cover that surface, and all types of structures that people have placed upon it to shape it. Grapevines everywhere share at least a few common characteristics. One of the most spectacular hillside vineyard sites in America is that of Renaissance Vineyards and Winery in California's North Yuba AVA. Grapevines grown on trellises may also be head-pruned, in which case two or four spurs or, more likely, canes are selected for the production of next year's crop.
