The French winegrowers' cooperative Vignerons de Buzet in the Sud-Ouest wine region is planning a vineyard that will produce grapes over 50 to 60 years old from day one without any human intervention. The experimental area of 11.5 hectares, known as the "New Age", will be set on fallow land and will be completely without fertilisers and plant protection. The winegrowers intend to invest 100,000 euros to plant 1,200 vines on 0.5 ha each, using 30 different cultivation techniques. The cooperative wants to use them to test previously untested and proven cultivation and growth methods in order to determine the best possible cultivation for the consequences of climate change that are being felt there.
The Vignerons de Buzet have been dealing with ecological issues for more than ten years and are engaged in organic farming.
(uka)