The horse in our vineyard

Since the 20th century, the viticulture discovered the industrialisation of his work. The first machines appeared to help the men in his everyday work. For this period, and for a easier work, the men decided to plant his vines in lines, not “en foule”, to improve the time spent in the vines, and the efforts to produce a work. Less work for more production of grapes …

But generally, the men need to work hard to obtain the best. The hand work or the horse work helps the soil to stay alive. The compaction of the very heavy machines actually shows us a deep impact on our soils, and on the plants health. The roots of the vines stays up, the water stays on the top of the soil, have difficulties to go through … And if there is something important, it is the capacity of the soil to let the water go deep, and that the roots takes the subsoil elements for stronger and more complex wines.

That impact makes us change our work in the vineyard. We decided this year to make all the ploughings without machines, but with a horse. The horse offers many advantages. He do not compact the soil, do not pollute the atmosphere, and helps the winegrower to stay in contact with the nature, without this industrial noise of motors. This work has a real good impact on our vineyard, but also on our spirit condition. We reduce the stress, and grow the pleasure of our work. We see the evolution of the soil and of the plants each time we walk behind the horse. This vision is really helpful to understand the condition of each Parcel. That’s one of our revolution in Merfy for 2010 …