In this current context of drought, the debate has come front and center in many parts of our planet. Opinions, often formulated with absolute certainties, are often linked to past weather patterns and whether or not there is enough access to fresh water for irrigation. In our Mediterranean climate, the grape vine is one of […]
The philosophy behind regenerative farming focuses on conservation and improvement of our farming environments. It emphasizes restoring local biodiversity but above all improving the quantity and quality of topsoil. One of the most effective practices is the use of cover crops. Used correctly they mitigate soil erosion while improving soil fertility, quality, water retention, weeds, […]
It is now been more than 10 years that we have been fighting the dreaded vine moth larvae without insecticides (you can read our article of June 24, 2011). The principle behind “mating disruption” (the French translation means literally “sexual confusion”) remains the same, but the tools and methods have evolved. Let’s first review what […]
I hope this post finds you and your loved ones in good health. Our lives have been significantly altered since the arrival of COVID-19, and now we have to adapt to a new world. As usual, we’d like to share with you life here at the estate and what we are doing to respond to […]
Each winter some 200 ewes and lambs call our organic vineyards home, where they feast upon wild vegetation. The troop has the run of a one-hectare block of vines for about two days, before the shepherd moves them to a new block. When the vegetation gets out of hand, we only have a few options: […]
2016’s growing season was exceptionally favorable to the vine. Nature has given us a vintage that won’t soon be forgotten. After a mild and slightly rainy winter, a cool wet spring triggered a somewhat delayed bud break (marking the end of winter dormancy, bud break is the moment when the new leaves push through their […]
The trade press is just beginning to talk about a topic that greatly concerns many winemakers here in France – the sharp increase in vine mortality due to what is euphemistically called “wood diseases.” Every year, an average plot in France can lose between 1.5% and 3.5% of its population (in a decade that means […]
The vineyard I’m looking at from my window this morning is shaggy with chaotic vines, bristling with wild weeds and mottled by spots of mildew from the recent rains. Some years back I would have thought “what messy work” and today I find it just beautiful. I learned to take care of vineyards before understanding […]
I’d like to introduce you to an occurrence called shattering, an event that happens in the lifecycle of a vine that is often perceived as bad news but can instead be a factor of quality. I made a little video about it a few weeks ago while I was in a young Grenache vineyard (4th […]
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