LIVE24SEVEN // Wining & Dining Patricia Terry
So…my Merlot vine planted to the rear of my garden, up a trellis, has become a monster! I suspect this has more to do with the ample (tomato) fertilizer applied for the rose I planted next to the vine, rather than the less than ideal situation the vine is planted in. Why tomato fertilizer?,
well..for no other reason than that is what was to hand at the time…but I suspect that as a result, I will have sacrificed fruit for prolific leaf growth. However, it did set my thoughts wandering along the confusion that is often expressed about the differences between Organic, Bio-dynamic and Natural wines and so hopefully the following will help, in some small way, to clarify matters!
With all three, the end result is the same…to make good wine, that is made from good grapes that are grown in good soil, achieved by returning to more traditional methods and working closely with nature.
During the post-war years, chemical scientists worked with the agricultural industry to produce artificial fertilizers that proved to be labour saving, cost effective and that would produce great results. However, the inevitable downside was that routine spraying, additions of nitrogen, magnesium and potassium to vineyards, left soils barren, devoid of life and low in nutrients. So much so that microbiologist Claude Bourguignon was quoted as saying that some of the most well known vineyards in Burgundy had less microbiological life than the Sahara desert…clearly not good for vines or the wines produced!
..and so over the last thirty years, things have changed.
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ORGANIC WINES Organic wines are made from grapes grown in vineyards that
exclude the use of synthetic chemicals – fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and pesticides. Vines grow in soil rich in worms, insects and bacteria, with cover crops of mineral rich plants, herbs and flowers.
ORGANIC WINES ARE MADE FROM GRAPES GROWN IN
VINEYARDS THAT EXCLUDE THE
USE OF SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS – FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES,
FUNGICIDES AND PESTICIDES. VINES GROW IN SOIL RICH IN WORMS, INSECTS AND
BACTERIA, WITH COVER CROPS OF MINERAL RICH PLANTS, HERBS AND FLOWERS
❞
This results in a soil rich in nutrients and trace elements that the vine can absorb. Vines become stronger and more resistant to disease. Natural predators are added to the vineyards… Ladybirds (own up..who still counts the spots to see how old a Ladybird is?
...no?...just me then..) to tackle aphid problems, insectivorous birds to eat spiders or beetles and mobile chicken coops to enable chickens to eat grubs and vine weevils from the ground. It is easier to grow organic grapes in some Regions than others. For example, in Alsace where there can be hot, dry continental climate with vineyards situated on slopes that have wind blowing through them, mildew and rot are less of an issue than say in Bordeaux, with its warm, damp maritime climate and flatter vineyards.
Converting from a conventional vineyard to an organic one is a three year process that involves regular inspection. Organisations such as the Soil Association in the UK and Ecocert in France, give the certification.
Apologies if you are all aware of the following, but just to be
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