It's interesting to me to consider the similarities between the culture and habit of figs to grapes, and I wonder if some lessons learned from one might apply to the other.  They both fruit on new wood, need heat and sun to develop best sugar and flavor, and people have gone to some remarkable lengths to grow tender varieties in northern locations.  
Some practices employed in vineyards are quite similar to what folks do with fig plants in the autumn, like trenching and then burying the vines.   Training and pruning grape vines seem similar to some of the pruning practices I've seen posted here, like the 'step-over espalier' compared to horizontal cordon.   Grapes intended to be buried are usually planted on an angle, so the trunk is leaning towards the trench that it will be buried in for winter protection.  
I've been thinking about doing something similar with my future in-ground fig plants, because I know I'll need every advantage to grow figs outdoors, year-round here(zone 5a, 1000' elevation).   I'm planning on constructing a micro-climate which will provide wind-protection, heat retention, soil fertility during the growing season, and then be used to berm the plants in for the dormant months.