Will Vin Be Offering the Bee Course Again
Bordeaux winegrowers have implemented numerous best practices to preserve and develop biodiversity in their vineyards. How are their efforts reflected in the field? Does the presence of animals and insects in the vineyards have an impact on viticulture?
Biodiversity? "A buzzword coined in the 1980s to designate the diversity of living things… from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. It'southward a far-reaching topic!" notes Adrien Blitz, Head of Research at the INRAE (National Institute of Agricultural Enquiry).
Biodiversity comes in many shapes and sizes in the Bordeaux vineyards, both at the macro level: flowers, butterflies, birds, bats, foxes, etc. and micro level: earthworms (visible fauna) and micro-organisms such equally mites and springtails (invisible fauna).
Preserving biodiversity has been a key priority for winegrowers for over twenty years. "Protecting biodiversity can exist considered from two different angles", explains Adrien Rusch, who specializes in the functional relationship between agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystems. "The offset claiming focuses on heritage and environmental and social responsibleness in a bid to protect rare and emblematic species and re-diversify the landscape. The 2nd challenge involves protecting biodiversity since it offers numerous benefits to vineyards, such as regulating insect pests and ensuring the proper functioning of the soil."
To see these two challenges, Bordeaux winegrowers accept implemented various developments to protect biodiversity throughout their vineyards.
At Château Nodot (Saint Christoly de Blaye), Jessica has preserved and diversified the viticultural landscape past replanting hedges and trees. Her vineyards are now made up of viii hectares of vines and 12 hectares of prairies and woodland, with a network of ponds and water sources. Likewise, Noémie Tanneau, the immature possessor of the Château Saint-Ferdinand manor (Lussac Saint-Emilion), follows the aforementioned logic: "I aim to restore dark-green infrastructure and continuity between all natural spaces, including meadows, ponds and streams to guarantee a wildlife corridor."
The two immature women too practice late mowing (during the summer solstice in late June), to preserve habitats and "offer creature nutrient and shelter". "This is a philosophical principle", Jessica Aubert explains. "I aim to repair the imbalances caused by vine monoculture." Meanwhile, Noémie Tanneau "also thought of [her] daughters anile vi and 8 who oftentimes enjoy playing in the vineyards". She works in partnership with the Conservatoire Botanique du Végétal d'Aquitaine (CVRA), which keeps an inventory of plants in the countryside.
To preserve wildlife, the solution is not necessarily to create artificial nesting boxes and shelters, simply to ensure that all kinds of animals reconnect with their natural habitats. Of form, some winegrowers have installed beehives and bee houses, sometimes in collaboration with beekeepers; but according to Jessica Aubert, structures to encourage the return of brute tin be relatively elementary: "Leave a pile of stones to attract snakes, leave wooden structures open up for bats and get out a small hole in sheds for owls and swallows… and just lay down some cardboard if y'all're bothered by their droppings!".
Over the past 11 years, she has observed visible changes in the vineyards: the arable return of ladybirds, fireflies, stick insects, new kinds of slugs… "Just a few of the many species that were much rarer a few years agone." The same is true at La Dauphine (Fronsac): "I accept noticed a change in the past ten years", notes Stéphanie Barousse, Managing director of the estate. "We see more insects, earthworms, foxes, deer, squirrels, hedgehogs, plus a wide variety of plants in the vineyards, such as mint, etc."
We accept noticed the soil is coming back to life; the vines are stronger, more vigorous and less puny.
Of grade, biodiversity shouldn't exist seen as the solution to everything. "Planting hedges will not solve all our problems", warns Adrien Rusch, who emphasizes the fact that the Bordeaux vineyards have to contend with pathogens linked to the temperate oceanic climate.
Nevertheless, protecting biodiversity can be a win-win strategy: some of the animals, birds and micro-organisms that have returned to the vineyards feed on insect pests that set on vines, helping to reduce (or even supervene upon) treatments. Enquiry past the French Bird Protection League has demonstrated the effectiveness of the pipistrelle (a bat often observed in the vineyards) in reducing the presence of grapeworm moths, which it eagerly devours at night. Meanwhile, ladybirds dote on leafhoppers – another vine pest. More by and large speaking, "diversified comprehend crops increase biodiversity (insects, collywobbles, bees) while improving the regulation of vineyard pests and enhancing soil fertility", Adrien Rusch adds.
In terms of the soil, macrofauna and mesofauna help decompose organic affair and release nutrients, which ultimately help the vines. This animal maintains soil fertility, limits the impact of pollution, ensures water reserves, etc. These are merely a few of the many benefits for winegrowers in terms of vineyard management.
A major issue today, the Bordeaux Vino School includes initiatives to protect biodiversity in the vineyard in nearly of its training programs. Find the consummate list of training programs organized by our accredited tutors and discover our "Sustainable wine region" module on the OenoBordeaux app.
Source: https://www.ecoleduvindebordeaux.com/us/biodiversity-a-win-win-strategy/
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