Grape vines, anybody know a thing about grape vines?

[flushcut]

So here’s the skinny my mom has two grape vines that are 40 years old and two things 1. They have never been properly pruned. And 2. The trellis supporting them is failing.
I’m wondering how heavy handed can I get with them without killing them? Can they be cut back to the stump and will they regenerate? Any help or links would be handy.

 

[lxskllr]

The main stem isn't salvageable? With a decent piece of that, you could train a good form going forward with less possible risk of killing it. I don't know anything about grapes though. Only what I can see from the road looking at professional vineyards, and it's been awhile since I regularly drove past one.

edit:
Thinking about wild grape though, it's almost impossible to kill that stuff. It just keeps growing, but the resulting vine might not make a good quality base for fruit production.

 

[flushcut]

It’s never been “trained” it looks more like a couch sized pile of spaghetti or every power pole in India. Lol

There is a vineyard I can stop by and ask for pointers.

 

[Cobleskill]

I have a bud who grew acres of grapes. I will see him this weekend and ask him. You know what variety?

 

[flushcut]

No clue what variety. I just know it’s an overgrown mess.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Pictures help.
But, dont cut it all the way to the trunk.
You have to leave a few just under pencil sized runners along the trellis or wire that they need trained to. A little sapling tape helps. Not too tight. It'll wrap right round whatever you tie it to.
Going back to the trunk is too harsh for most things. Vineyard across the street leaves the runners about 4-8 feet depending.
Grandma had to trim her concords real regular to keep them off the house from across the drive way. Trellis went over the drive and doen a path. Was quite wonderful shade in summer. Big grapes, we'd harvest and make jelly. Heavy!

 

[Nutball]

40 years sounds old as far as being productive. You may be able to root new shoots by burying them for a while before cutting them off.

Grape might be worth a try as smoke wood.

 

[Cobleskill]

We have Concords around here that have been going strong for over 50 years. If a vine dies they do root a runner to take over.

 

[Altissimus]

Hangovers = the Wrath Of Grapes ,

 

[flushcut]

That’s a good one!

They are still very productive at 40yo.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

I think my grand mothers were planted back in the 30s or 40s. House was a flat roof adobe style and still had gas lighting sconces onthe walls

 

[flushcut]

I’d love gas lighting in my house. I have a lake custy who has gas lighting on the exterior and carriage house. It’s just a warm and inviting light, moth to flame kinda thing I guess.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Those were disconnected years back. Electricity became more plentiful and safer.

 

[flushcut]

Personally I’d rather blow up than be electrocuted.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

 

[Al Smith]

I don't have any "domestic " grapes but I've got some dandy wild grapes " .Some are as big around as baseball bats and reach the tops of 100 foot oaks. Those are large enough to haveTarzan swinging from them .Probabley as old as the oaks ..