Organic vine plants
Evelyne de Pontbriand, the owner of Domaine du Closel in Savennières, is introducing organic vines to a one-hectare plot on the estate. The 7,500 vines were supplied by Lilian Berillon, the only nurseryman in France to produce this type of product. They have undergone no phytosanitary treatment or genetic modification. Mme de Pontbriand, assisted by Berillon, is currently planting rootstocks. In two years’ time, when these are established and fully robust, she will V-graft the scions – an alternative to omega grafting, the most common method. This work is intended to halt the advance of certain diseases, such as esca.