"A great vineyard and a great terroir do not require chemical additives from the outside
the satisfaction of producing good and natural wines allows you to feel good about yourself and lets you look in the eye confidently the consumer"
The Vineyard
The main vineyard we harvest is located at the top of the hills in the west area of Le Mesnil sur Oger, preserved and cared from generation to generation by a local family of "vignerons". This privileged position protects the vines roots from spring frosts with a dryer micro-climate than the lower grounds, which also reduces the spreading of molds and fungi, allowing to employ a very low quantity of copper sulfate. No chemical pesticides are employed, opting for the use pheromones to contrast parasites reproduction and attracting helpful insects such as ladybugs and other predators. The pruning method is the Chablis, with an average density of 10.000 plants per hectare. It is also noticeable a grass covered ground between the vine rows, which helps keeping a biological balance between the plants and the soil.
Sustainable Viticolture
Against some common prejudice asserting insects are dangerous for agriculture and should be eradicated, we take advantage of their potential and employ them in our viticulture system.The vineyard is the ideal place to apply various biodynamic techniques, avoiding chemicals. It allows to create a more balanced and healthy environment preventing infestations of parasites thanks to a better equilibrium between flora and fauna. Most of harmful insects have natural predators that regulate the population, attracting them can bring great results for the well being of the vineyard.
How to attract useful insects
BUILDING SHELTERS ATTRACTS USEFUL INSECTS
LADYBUGS REALLY BRING LUCK TO THE VINEYARD!
Ladybugs
Apis Mellifera
POLLINATING INSECTS ARE VERY USEFUL IN MANY ASPECTS
Earwigs, predator insects and parasitoids
PREDATORS CAN REDUCE THE PRESENCE OF APHIDS AND DAMAGING LARVAE
Insects are the most numerous set of living things: some cause tremendous damage to crops; many more, however, are the beneficial insects that farmers employ to achieve extraordinary benefits in terms of natural pollination, pest control, and environmental protection.
NATURE IS OUR TEACHER
In every ecosystem there is a perfect balance between the populations of living organisms that inhabit it: plants (producers), animals (consumers) and decomposers.
This is a stable condition until external factors intervene, such as climate change or the arrival of new ones from different countries. This causes changes, creates imbalances, and that is when nature puts in place its corrective mechanisms: the most important being antagonism between species.
A pest infestation is a disruption of the natural balance.
Biological control is the technique that exploits antagonistic relationships by introducing natural predators of harmful insects into the ecosystem in order to drastically reduce their numbers and restore the lost balance.
The Chardonnay
Côte des Blancs is the realm of chardonnay, the sole grape variety we harvest. The main aromas these grapes confer to the wine are fresh and citric, with scents of green apple and white flowers, that develop in pastries, toasted bread, butter and caramel as the aging progresses.
The Chalk
The chalk, or to me more precise the calcium carbonate, composes most of the soil of the Côte des Blancs, adding a mineral flavor to its wines. Furthermore it creates the perfect environment for the chardonnay, storing water and providing hydration to the vines during dry periods.
The Grass
Thanks to the hydroseeding, a technique that allows grass to grow in slope areas, we obtained a perfect balance of nitrogen, oxygen and minerals in the soil, improving the the health of the vineyard and the quality of the grapes.
The Pruning
Pruning allows the vine to produce new shoots, controls the volume of production and improves the quality of the grapes. Chablis is the only pruning method consented for Grand Cru Chardonnay, the canes are trimmed when they reach the next vine leaving short bud-bearing canes.
