Decanter writes about pesticides in wines
On January 27th 2011, we wrote a blog on pesticides, how much the vineyard industry was using and how residues are found in wines. A Decanter magazine article of 19th February 2013, implies that the situation has not changed as a recent French study exposes that pesticide residues are found in 90% of wines. The impact on the consumer is not the worst; it’s the health of vineyard workers that should be protected.
We have implemented organic methods since the beginning and have received in November 2012 the organic certification after three years of survey. We also had our wines analyzed by the laboratory Excell mentioned in Decanter and have been awarded their "+Nature" certificate and their logo is on our bottles. Vineyards in general cannot afford the organic route; it is incompatible with supplying high quantity of wines at a good price. Chemical treatment of vines increases productivity by reducing labour cost and by protecting the vineyard from pest and diseases.
To achieve a fine wine with organic methods it is necessary to multiply efforts and work in the vines. It becomes a real challenge to produce a healthy grape! Alternative "mixtures" such as nettle or sage brews are fine in very sunny years, but are insufficient or even a disaster in prolonged wet weather. But our soil is more alive and healthier than in chemically treated vineyards, our wines are balanced, aromatic and intense, making all the long hours working up and down rows and rows of vines worthwhile.
We have now succeeded with 4 years of organic award winning wines and 11 medals. Our 2012 red not yet bottled has already received the Gold award from the state competition “Concours Général Agricole” de Paris 2013.
