Tag: viticulture

New rules in France for hiring harvesting workers

The harvesting machine today replaces hand harvesting in many places around the world. And harvesting machines are not only for simple wines. Small, efficient and gentle machines are also seen in densely planted vineyards where

Vines with irrigation tubing. Bacalhoa Vinhos, Azeitao, Portugal

To irrigate or not to irrigate in the vineyard?

The summer started with a lot of rain in some parts of France. But in Languedoc-Roussillon it is getting dry. During a hot summer with hardly any rain, some vineyards will have problems, especially those

Spraying by helicopter, forbidden but not quite

Should spraying by helicopter or air-plane be banned? Yes, says Segolène Royale, the French Minister for ecology, sustainability and energy (as well as ex-presidential candidate and ex-partner of the current president). There is actually already

Cleaning with water spray a big tractor equipped for spraying

Pure and healthy country air?

Well, not always. In the district of Blaye in the Bordeaux region recently an entire school class was taken to hospital after having exhibited symptoms of poisoning, which apparently were due to a wine producer

Are old vines always better?

At what age is a vine at its best? When visiting wineries in New World countries you are sometimes surprised. The wine producers there talk about replanting a vineyard after only 20 years. It is

Copper, less dangerous than we think? Or not?

At the end of May, the EU Commission will decide whether to keep the present levels of copper permitted for organic growers or if the levels should be reduced. Currently, organic growers are allowed to

Saved by the bell? (Or by the copper in the vineyard?)

No, more likely by copper. Many organic growers survive thanks to the permission they have to spray with copper against the severe fungal disease mildiou. This applies not least to the organic growers in Burgundy

Mild winter may cause problems in the vineyards

The exceptionally mild winter in the Languedoc area can cause problems for the wine producers. A mild winter brings early budding, increasing the risk of damage if frost strikes later in the spring. Right now

Machine Harvest in Champagne, soon a reality?

In Champagne everything is harvested by hand in order not to risk that the must is coloured by the blue (red) grapes. But last year discuss begun about the possibility of introducing machine harvest in

The golden secateurs to Lynch-Bages’ pruner

Now in winter time, maybe the wine produce can slow down a little and recuperate? Hardly. Now begins the season for la taille, the winter pruning. An extremely important task that requires special skill so

Grape growing and wine-grape varieties world-wide

If you are interested in wine, grapes and statistics, then you are in for a treat. The University of Adelaide has published a book by Kym Andersson and Nanda R Aryal called Which Winegrape Varieties

Mandatory spraying in the vineyard

It can be costly to refuse to spray against the grasshopper that spread the disease flavescence corée. Flavescence dorée is a bacterial disease that weakens the vine. The only thing you can do to prevent

The root cause? Expensive French rootstocks

France has many nurseries that provide winegrowers with new vines. These nurseries are now worried that the French vines have become too expensive compared to other European countries. They keep losing market shares. Exports have

A French nitrogen ban in the vineyards?

The French Ministry of Agriculture is discussing a decision to ban nitrogen fertilisation to farmland with an inclination of more than 15 %. This is to reduce nitrate emissions into the environment. This has naturally

Black soil as good as white

Schist (slate) deserves more respect. Wine growers in Anjou in the Loire Valley are a bit upset about the fact that limestone gets all the attention. So they organized La Paulee de l ‘Anjou Noir

The water mirror at Vina Vik, Chile

Southern France irrigates

Irrigation in the vineyards is no longer taboo in France, nor is it prohibited. (It is curious how often one still hear people saying that irrigation in France, or even in Europe, is not permitted.

Steep slopes vineyards with vineyard workers in Condrieu, Rhone Valley

More expensive to hire seasonal workers in France

Starting this year, the government in France has annulled some of the exceptions to the social security contributions for seasonal workers that the agricultural employers have previously enjoyed. In other words, it is now more

Machine harvest in Champagne?

Since 1st of January this year, it has become significantly more expensive in France to hire seasonal workers in the vineyard because of increased employer contributions. In Champagne producers have even begun to discuss the

Satellite imaging helps the wine grower

To have fine, healthy grapes when it is time to pick means everything, or at least a lot, to the quality of the wine. And that means that you must ensure that both the vines

Copper harms beneficial bacteria

Copper is an effective way to fight the fungal disease mildiou. However, spraying too much copper in the vineyard is not good for the soil and the water and this has been known a long

Cleaning with water spray a big tractor equipped for spraying

Pure and healthy country air?

Well, not always. In the district of Blaye in the Bordeaux region recently an entire school class was taken to hospital after having exhibited symptoms

Are old vines always better?

At what age is a vine at its best? When visiting wineries in New World countries you are sometimes surprised. The wine producers there talk

Mandatory spraying in the vineyard

It can be costly to refuse to spray against the grasshopper that spread the disease flavescence corée. Flavescence dorée is a bacterial disease that weakens

Black soil as good as white

Schist (slate) deserves more respect. Wine growers in Anjou in the Loire Valley are a bit upset about the fact that limestone gets all the

The water mirror at Vina Vik, Chile

Southern France irrigates

Irrigation in the vineyards is no longer taboo in France, nor is it prohibited. (It is curious how often one still hear people saying that

Machine harvest in Champagne?

Since 1st of January this year, it has become significantly more expensive in France to hire seasonal workers in the vineyard because of increased employer

Copper harms beneficial bacteria

Copper is an effective way to fight the fungal disease mildiou. However, spraying too much copper in the vineyard is not good for the soil

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