Tag: viticulture

First “natural” herbicide launched

The first “natural” herbicide is now available on the market. The name is Beloukha and the company that manufactures the product is called Jade. Beloukha is a fatty acid derived from rapeseed oil. Spraying with

Stricter rules in Austria for spraying with copper

Organic producers are criticized for their use of copper in the vineyards. The EU allows 6 kilograms of copper per hectare and per year for organic producers, as we mentioned recently (Organic viticulture: How do

Organic viticulture: How do you use less copper?

It does not matter if you are organic or not. All vineyards can suffer from various diseases. Against certain fungal diseases, downy mildew for example, you can spray with copper, usually in the form of

Vines, a cultural heritage. On Pantelleria

Vines pruned with the traditional alberello method and half-buried in the sand on the volcanic island of Pantelleria south of Sicily, is since a little while back on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This traditional

Spain, biggest in the world. For vineyards

Wine countries outside of Europe are steadily increasing their surface under vines but it is still a European country that can boast the largest vineyard area in the world. It has long been Spain and

Pantelleria. A drop in the Mediterranean

“Are we in Iraq?”, asks a fellow traveller, looking out the car window. “I think it looks like Tunisia,” says another. “Are we in the right place?”, asks number three. Yes, we are in the

Grape bunch attacked by grey rot

New organic pesticide against rot (botrytis)

UK research company Eden Research has developed an organic pesticide, called 3AEY. The product has now been approved for sale in the EU. 3AEY is made of tea tree oil and lemon juice and is

Suzukii fly in the vineyard

A brand new insect has made its debut in the French vineyards. This we were told at one of our visits to Champagne a few weeks ago. This insect is called drosophila suzukii and is

Esca, a big problem in the French vineyards

The French wine harvest 2014 has largely given the wine producers adequate quantity and a good quality. But all is not rosy in the vineyard. There is a disease that wreaks havoc in the vineyards

New rules in France for hiring harvesting workers

The harvesting machine today replaces hand harvesting in many places around the world. And harvesting machines are not only for simple wines. Small, efficient and gentle machines are also seen in densely planted vineyards where

Vines with irrigation tubing. Bacalhoa Vinhos, Azeitao, Portugal

To irrigate or not to irrigate in the vineyard?

The summer started with a lot of rain in some parts of France. But in Languedoc-Roussillon it is getting dry. During a hot summer with hardly any rain, some vineyards will have problems, especially those

Spraying by helicopter, forbidden but not quite

Should spraying by helicopter or air-plane be banned? Yes, says Segolène Royale, the French Minister for ecology, sustainability and energy (as well as ex-presidential candidate and ex-partner of the current president). There is actually already

Cleaning with water spray a big tractor equipped for spraying

Pure and healthy country air?

Well, not always. In the district of Blaye in the Bordeaux region recently an entire school class was taken to hospital after having exhibited symptoms of poisoning, which apparently were due to a wine producer

Are old vines always better?

At what age is a vine at its best? When visiting wineries in New World countries you are sometimes surprised. The wine producers there talk about replanting a vineyard after only 20 years. It is

Copper, less dangerous than we think? Or not?

At the end of May, the EU Commission will decide whether to keep the present levels of copper permitted for organic growers or if the levels should be reduced. Currently, organic growers are allowed to

Saved by the bell? (Or by the copper in the vineyard?)

No, more likely by copper. Many organic growers survive thanks to the permission they have to spray with copper against the severe fungal disease mildiou. This applies not least to the organic growers in Burgundy

Mild winter may cause problems in the vineyards

The exceptionally mild winter in the Languedoc area can cause problems for the wine producers. A mild winter brings early budding, increasing the risk of damage if frost strikes later in the spring. Right now

Machine Harvest in Champagne, soon a reality?

In Champagne everything is harvested by hand in order not to risk that the must is coloured by the blue (red) grapes. But last year discuss begun about the possibility of introducing machine harvest in

The golden secateurs to Lynch-Bages’ pruner

Now in winter time, maybe the wine produce can slow down a little and recuperate? Hardly. Now begins the season for la taille, the winter pruning. An extremely important task that requires special skill so

Grape growing and wine-grape varieties world-wide

If you are interested in wine, grapes and statistics, then you are in for a treat. The University of Adelaide has published a book by Kym Andersson and Nanda R Aryal called Which Winegrape Varieties

Mandatory spraying in the vineyard

It can be costly to refuse to spray against the grasshopper that spread the disease flavescence corée. Flavescence dorée is a bacterial disease that weakens the vine. The only thing you can do to prevent

First “natural” herbicide launched

The first “natural” herbicide is now available on the market. The name is Beloukha and the company that manufactures the product is called Jade. Beloukha

Suzukii fly in the vineyard

A brand new insect has made its debut in the French vineyards. This we were told at one of our visits to Champagne a few

Cleaning with water spray a big tractor equipped for spraying

Pure and healthy country air?

Well, not always. In the district of Blaye in the Bordeaux region recently an entire school class was taken to hospital after having exhibited symptoms

Are old vines always better?

At what age is a vine at its best? When visiting wineries in New World countries you are sometimes surprised. The wine producers there talk

Mandatory spraying in the vineyard

It can be costly to refuse to spray against the grasshopper that spread the disease flavescence corée. Flavescence dorée is a bacterial disease that weakens

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