Viticulture

We believe that organic viticulture will produce better fruit and ultimately better quality wine. It’s also much friendlier on the environment which is a key consideration both ethically and commercially. To authenticate our organic status we have chosen Organic Farmers and Growers, a leading UK organic control body with a reputation for practical, efficient and friendly service.

Organic viticulture has its challenges. Weed management is a key issue, especially when establishing a new vineyard. The prevention and treatment of diseases such as mildew and botrytis also needs careful consideration.

After much research and debate we have chosen to use wood compost for weed control and compost teas for disease control avoiding the use of all chemicals including sulphur and copper.

The Soil Food Web and Compost Teas

The Soil Food Web is a diverse community of microscopic organism which live in the soil. There are hundreds of thousands of species and this biology is an integral part of a healthy ecosystem. These soil dwellers are performing important tasks that allow plants to thrive and grow. As they eat, grow and move through the soil, these organisms make it possible to have clean water, clean air, healthy plants and moderate water flow.

Not surprisingly pesticides and herbicides kill off this natural biological system. Organic farmers use composts and compost teas to help the biology recover and also as an effective treatment for disease control.

Compost teas are made by aerobically brewing compost in a tank of water (a bit like a jacuzzi) typically for 24 hours. This allows the living organisms on the compost, including bacteria and fungi, to be released into the water which is then sprayed on the vines. Food such as Humic Acid or Fish Hydrolysate is often added to promote growth of the organisms. Kelp helps as a micronutrient and Trichoderma spores can be added to treat mildew.

More information is available on our blog.

We work closely with Laverstoke Park Farm who are experts in organic farming

Wine-Making

There are currently no European regulations for organic wine making. However a working paper was put forward by the European Commission in June 2009. We intend to follow the emerging European standards for organic wine-making.