The vineyard is run under the principle of integrated production, a global approach which aims at preserving the life of the soils and at limiting spraying.

 

We pay utmost attention to the quality and life of the soil, responsible for the balance between soil and vine plant. We work our soil according to the traditional ‘four-ways method’: a non- aggressive approach respecting underground microbial flora. Our manure is carefully added to provide the vine with a proper balance of nutrients without fostering excessive vigour which would hinder the sugar concentration of our grapes.

 

Integrated protection

In order to treat vine diseases, we have opted for the ‘integrated protection’ strategy resting on the basic principles of acting as early as possible so as to limit parasite development, then using the appropriate spray at the optimum time. The name of this method indicates the combination of the means used: natural regulation methods, natural enemies of vineyard pests, cultivation methods and natural curative methods.

The research carried out by the INRA on parasites and their natural regulation now enables us to precisely define our operation objectives and to cut down the number of passes of the tractor in the vineyard and the number of spraying, hence the compacting of the soil and CO2 emissions.

Couhins is where the sexual confusion method was perfected. Used to control the grape worm, a parasite which pierces the berries, this method aims at perturbing biologically the reproduction of the worm-producing moths by spraying a substance identical to the pheromones emitted by female moths.

The use/spraying of phyto-chemicals depends on a decision-making protocol which takes into account the evolution of symptoms (tolerance threshold), climatic parameters and development stage of the vine plant.