Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. Grapes are grown for fresh fruit, dried fruit or for the grape juice, which can be used (amongst others) to produce wine. Duties of the Viticulturalist include: monitoring and controlling pests and diseases, fertilizing, irrigating, canopy management, monitoring fruit development and characteristics, deciding when to harvest and vine pruning during the winter months. Viticulturalists are often intimately involved with winemakers, because vineyard management and the resulting grape characteristics, provide the basis from which winemaking can begin.