Regenerative Viticulture needs certification

Regenerative viticulture needs certification, according to Jess Baum from Bonterra Organic Estates.

Regenerative Farming is the process of reducing inputs by increasing biodiversity in the vineyard. It also increases the sustainability of the vineyard and increases the amount of carbon in the soils. However, there is a lack of accepted certification process.

Baum, who is a senior director of regenerative impact at the Californian wine producer, Bonterra Organic Estates, says it is the “Wild West” for regenerative viticulture with a lack of certification bodies, claiming “We’re big believers in Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC)”

However there are concerns whether organics are fully compatible with regenerative viticulture with Justin Howard-Sneyd MW, who heads up courses on Sustainable and Regenerative Viticulture at the UK’s Dartington Trust, saying “If you are organic, but plough a lot and use a lot of copper, then you can actually have fairly unhealthy soil.”

Ploughing for weed control is common in organics but he went on to explain “as you turn the soil you expose it to UV light which is an oxidising force, and destroys a lot of the organic matter in the soil”.

Heavy use of copper sulphate, still heavily used by organic producers in wetter regions, pollutes the soils with heavy metals and kills much of the life in the soils.