Today, 45 different “resistant” grape varieties are permitted to be planted in France. And so far, they have been planted on 1,200 hectares.
There is an interest among winegrowers to plant these grape varieties that drastically reduce the need for spraying against fungal diseases such as mildiou and oidium. Often it is not a question of replanting the entire vineyard but the vines close to residential areas. The rules on how and when to spray near houses, schools, etc., are stringent.
The most planted resistant grape variety today is souvignier gris which is found on 365 hectares. It is followed by floreal with 250 hectares and artaban with 150.
It takes many years to obtain fungus-resistant grapes, and those that have now been planted are not specifically adapted to future climate changes. That is still a work in progress.
Read more: Vitisphere
