Gobelet is a traditional grapevine training system in which the vine is shaped into a free-standing goblet or bush form, usually without a permanent wire trellis. A short trunk supports several arms or canes that radiate outward, creating an open, cup-shaped structure. The system is common in parts of the Mediterranean and other warm, dry wine regions.
Gobelet vines are pruned to maintain a low trunk and a limited number of arms. The exact number and arrangement of arms depend on regional practice, grape variety and vine age. Annual pruning controls the number of buds and helps maintain the shape and balance of the vine.
The low, free-standing canopy can be suitable for dry, windy or low-vigour sites and may provide some shade to bunches. It can also be adapted to traditional vineyards with wide spacing. However, gobelet vines are generally more difficult to mechanise and may require additional manual labour for pruning, canopy work and harvest.
Example: old Grenache vines in the southern Rhône and parts of Spain may be trained in gobelet form, with low, spreading arms and no continuous trellis wires.
Gobelet is a free-standing bush system. Cordon uses one or more permanent horizontal arms along a wire, with spurs retained for annual pruning. Guyot is a cane-pruning system in which one or two long canes are retained and tied to a wire.
Chef’s note: gobelet is a vine-training system, not a grape variety or an indicator of old-vine status. Its suitability depends on the vineyard site and management goals.
This term is one of hundreds covered in depth across OCS courses, learning paths, and 1-on-1 coaching with Chef Eric.
