Wine countries outside of Europe are steadily increasing their surface under vines but it is still a European country that can boast the largest vineyard area in the world. It has long been Spain and
“Are we in Iraq?”, asks a fellow traveller, looking out the car window. “I think it looks like Tunisia,” says another. “Are we in the right place?”, asks number three. Yes, we are in the
UK research company Eden Research has developed an organic pesticide, called 3AEY. The product has now been approved for sale in the EU. 3AEY is made of tea tree oil and lemon juice and is
A brand new insect has made its debut in the French vineyards. This we were told at one of our visits to Champagne a few weeks ago. This insect is called drosophila suzukii and is
The making of a wine is much about chemistry. Without knowledge of chemistry it becomes difficult to really understand what is going on inside the winery. It is hard to find good literature about wine
The French wine harvest 2014 has largely given the wine producers adequate quantity and a good quality. But all is not rosy in the vineyard. There is a disease that wreaks havoc in the vineyards
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
What is most important for the quality of a wine? Healthy, fine grapes would be the most common answer nowadays. And therefore we think it is important to get a look at the vineyard when
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
Claude and Lydia Bourguignon are two well-known microbiologists who work as consultants worldwide. They advise wine producers and other farmers on all aspects of the soil. They analyse the soil, measure the microbiological activity, make
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
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
A visit to Westervin in Härna, Östergötland Not everyone happens to have a few acres of greenhouses that you do not know what to do with. But it helps if you want to grow wine
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Almost all vines planted today are grafted onto an American rootstock. This is because the wine louse, the phylloxera, is still present in the soil. The American vine is immune to phylloxera, but not the
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
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
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 discussion about organic or not organic is often about the taste of the wine. Maybe there should be a greater focus on the possible harmful effects that pesticides can have on people working with
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.
This spring has been the worst we have ever experienced in Paris. And in most parts of France, it has been as cold and rainy. We hope that the vines have not suffered too much
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
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
Wine countries outside of Europe are steadily increasing their surface under vines but it is still a European country that can boast the largest vineyard
“Are we in Iraq?”, asks a fellow traveller, looking out the car window. “I think it looks like Tunisia,” says another. “Are we in the
UK research company Eden Research has developed an organic pesticide, called 3AEY. The product has now been approved for sale in the EU. 3AEY is
A brand new insect has made its debut in the French vineyards. This we were told at one of our visits to Champagne a few
The making of a wine is much about chemistry. Without knowledge of chemistry it becomes difficult to really understand what is going on inside the
The French wine harvest 2014 has largely given the wine producers adequate quantity and a good quality. But all is not rosy in the vineyard.
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
What is most important for the quality of a wine? Healthy, fine grapes would be the most common answer nowadays. And therefore we think it
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
Claude and Lydia Bourguignon are two well-known microbiologists who work as consultants worldwide. They advise wine producers and other farmers on all aspects of the
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
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
A visit to Westervin in Härna, Östergötland Not everyone happens to have a few acres of greenhouses that you do not know what to do
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Almost all vines planted today are grafted onto an American rootstock. This is because the wine louse, the phylloxera, is still present in the soil.
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
The French Ministry of Agriculture is discussing a decision to ban nitrogen fertilisation to farmland with an inclination of more than 15 %. This is
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 discussion about organic or not organic is often about the taste of the wine. Maybe there should be a greater focus on the possible
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
This spring has been the worst we have ever experienced in Paris. And in most parts of France, it has been as cold and rainy.
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
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
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