Sendrey Vineyards
A agro-ecological
vineyard
Today, everyone’s environmental impact is crucial to preserving our planet.
For more than a decade, Château Haut-Claverie has been aware of the urgency of climate change and has gradually adapted its agricultural practices by reintroducing “farmers’ good sense” into its cultivation methods — reducing the intensive use of chemicals that had been common for decades.
These efforts were rewarded in 2019 with the certification of High Environmental Value (HVE) – Level 3, the highest level of distinction.
This certification recognises farms that meet strict environmental performance thresholds regarding biodiversity, phytosanitary strategy, fertilisation management, and water conservation, with measurable results.
For us, this is a true recognition of years of dedication and commitment. Our goal remains to constantly improve this approach and to further reduce our impact on biodiversity.
A gradual awakening
Soil management:
For a long time, the soil was seen merely as a support for the vine. Over time, however, we have worked it more carefully in order to reduce the use of herbicides.
More than twenty years ago, chemical weeding was systematic — applied 100% between the rows and even under each vine (see illustration 1).
A first transition came when Château Haut-Claverie eliminated the use of chemicals between vine rows for a decade.
We began to work the soil mechanically, alternating one cultivated row with one grassy (and mown) row.
The use of herbicides was then limited only to the base of the vines, restricted to a 50 cm band beneath each plant in accordance with legislation (see illustration 2).
For the past ten years, we have been striving towards a “zero chemical herbicide” approach.
We now perform all weeding manually beneath the vines (using small ploughs), while continuing to work the soil between rows without any chemical products whatsoever (see illustration 3).
Chemical treatments:
In the same spirit, we have stopped using insecticides (except for mandatory treatments). Instead, we have developed a rich network of grasses, hedges, and groves around the vineyards, which serve as natural refuges for insects.
Since the law of 1 January 2020, establishing a ZNT 0 (non-treated zone of 10 metres), which would otherwise require us to uproot 4 hectares of vines, we have chosen to use certified organic products combined with double-sided spraying equipment that enables us to fully comply with this zero-metre buffer zone requirement.
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Agriculture 3.0
Creating Living Landscapes
The future looks ever more respectful of our countryside, as we are preparing to introduce new “green practices” across our vineyards in the very near future.
Starting next autumn, we will sow cover crops between each vine row with the aim of revitalising, re-energising, and restructuring our soils.
These true green manures will help to fertilise the soil naturally while also re-establishing a forest-like ecosystem that benefits vine cultivation, allowing flora and fauna to thrive once again.
With a healthy, living soil, the vine finds itself in the ideal conditions to grow — less stressed, more resilient to challenges — creating a self-sustaining virtuous cycle.
Furthermore, we will be transforming one of our Graves Rouge parcels into an agroforestry system, planting tall trees such as wild cherry, service tree, pear, Judas tree, juniper, apricot, almond, peach, and walnut every three metres, interspersed with two shrubs such as rosemary, myrtle, rockrose, chaste tree, mastic, and bladder senna.
The aim of this plantation is to further enrich the biodiversity of Château Haut-Claverie by encouraging the exchange and harmony between trees and vines.
The tree species have been carefully selected for their natural affinity with the vine, particularly through their root systems, which facilitate the exchange of water, minerals, and sugars.
