There are different ways to work sustainably and environmentally friendly. Some producers have noted consumers’ fear of pesticide residues in the wine. One path to take is then to work organically and thus completely exclude synthetic chemical spraying. Another is to continue with these products, but on a smaller scale and instead, by way of analysing, guarantee that there are no residues left in the wine.
There is now a private French label for this, since 2017, called zéro résidu de pesticides (ZRP). The label has quickly become popular for vegetables and other foods. Vignerons de Tutiac, a wine cooperative in Bordeaux, became the first members from the wine industry in 2019. Others are on their way in.
The association analyses the wines for the active substances allowed in the vineyard. If the neighbour grows another crop, they also analyse for the active substances that are allowed for that crop. If an active substance is measured at more than 0.01 mg/kg (which is well below the permitted limit for health reasons), the wine may not use the label. Another requirement for using the label is that you refrain from certain synthetic products, e.g. all products classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive (CMR).
Read more: mon-viti and their rules https://www.nouveaux-champs.fr/cahier-des-charges/ .
But it is perhaps important to keep in mind that pesticides in the wine is not a big issue to worry about. The big problem with pesticides (spraying in the vineyard) is the impact it can have on the environment in and around the vineyard and, above all, the health risks it entails for those working in the vineyard or living close. And with the very advanced chemical analysis that are available today it is almost guaranteed that you will find at least some residues of pesticides in any wine.
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Read more on sprays and treatments in the vineyard in our article on organics in the vineyard.
