Planting Shrubs Together
Twenty wine producers from Saumur-Champigny, the “Heartland of variable Chenin-based sparkling and still wine” in the Loire Region of France, are coming together to plant a large area of their land with hedges and native plants to encourage the move in of beneficial insects. This is a great effort and step in the right direction for many of the producers in the area who don’t already employ biodynamic farming on their land.
The hedges will connect existing wooded areas, giving the bugs a highway right into the heart of the vines. The insects are then expected to act as a natural pesticide, improve the health of the grape crop, and reduce the need for chemical treatments.
These days, at more stores than ever, it seems that organic and biodynamic produce is garnering a larger portion of the market. Given the apparent health benefits that these changes make, can you blame wine makers for following suit? Do you purchase biodynamically farmed or organic wines?
Read [Wine International]
