1.1.2.c How to determine removal frequency?

For how long will the plot be non-producing?

At a minimum, it takes between 18 months to two years following a grubbing-up to complete the full tillage/fallow/preparation cycle before beginning to replant vines, and from that point it takes an additional 3 years for the vines to produce their first harvest.
On a virus-afflicted plot, it theoretically takes 6 to 7 years before the soil is considered healthy again. Afterwhich, an additional 3 years before the plot will return to production. Note that planting rights are lost after a total of 5 years, so it would be necessary to reapply.
The annual volume lost must be considered with regards to the estate's sustainability. It's an essential reference value to take into consideration before choosing to grub up a specific plot as it can indicate whether or not the estate can maintain the consistancy of its production volume.

Ideally, several grubbing-up scenarios should be created with the correlated theoretical volumes "lost" during the rest period as well as the future volumes expected from the new plantations. Such scenarios can be of great help to select the optimal grubbing-up order without jeopardizing the economic situation of the estate.

How long before wine quality is expected to return full potential?

A difficult element to assess, because evaluating this component depends on the basic potential of the plot, but on average it can take as much as 10 years before production returns to top-tier quality.

Which plot to grub-up next and when?

While still keeping in mind the same criteria, the next tier of priority plots inevitably becomes clear. The bottom-line question being: can the estate afford to grub-up additionally this year without compromising any short-term economic and qualitative stability?

One must also be mindful of the final product, as removing certain key plots may stylistically change the blend of the finished wine.

At this point, the most important criteria to respect would be the economical choices regarding any additional grubbing-up or timeline decisions. Gradually, a cycle develops sustaining the very existence of the vineyard whilst ensuring it remains economically profitable. Over the long term, the first plots that were uprooted return to production which compensates the loss of the subsequent plots. By following such a pattern, the estate can maintain production in a coherent and sustainable fashion.

The establishement of a grubbing-up schedule is also an economic and logistical tool. With a clear long-term planting schedule, it is no longer necessary to replant individual vines sporadically or perform thorough trellis maintenance for a parcel scheduled to be uprooted in the following 5 year period.