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BURGUNDY<br />
ENDORSEMENTS<br />
THE VINEYARDS AT DOMAINE YVON ET LAURENT VOCORET<br />
Investing in an earth-friendly approach to winegrowing using more environmentally friendly techniques<br />
is becoming part and parcel of a winegrower’s life. Renowned for its prestigious appellations,<br />
Burgundy is benefitting from the commitment of a growing number of estates that produce<br />
wines organically, both in the vineyard and the winery. In France, High Environmental Value (HVE)<br />
endorsement crowns the highest level of environmental certification for farms. Since the scheme’s<br />
inception in February 2012, the number of certified farms has grown steadily. By 1 July 2021, more<br />
than 19,000 farms had garnered the certification, including a large number of wineries. At the end<br />
of the certification process, HVE endorses properties that promote biodiversity and offer a complementary<br />
network for crops, preserve life in the soils to maintain fertility, develop positive synergies<br />
with the natural environment of the crops and encourage the development of useful fauna, including<br />
precious pollinators. These criteria are core components of work in the vineyard, entailing a more<br />
independent approach to plant protection products and treatment, along with water management.<br />
The certification gives winegrowers the freedom to act as they see fit. They can choose the techniques<br />
best suited to the characteristics of their vineyards, soil, climate and plot size in order to develop<br />
environmental practices that treat the unique character of their vineyard sites, and therefore their<br />
wines, with respect. “To secure the endorsement, winegrowers must put together an application<br />
and then request an audit by an accredited external organisation”, explains a spokesperson from<br />
the Burgundy Wine Bureau (BIVB). “An initial intermediate audit is carried out 18 months after<br />
certification for review. Then a renewal is required every three years. The process is not necessarily a<br />
stepping stone to the more restrictive transition to organic farming. There is no connection between<br />
the two initiatives. Everyone can follow the route they choose – they can view HVE as a step towards<br />
organic, stay HVE or go straight to organic farming without transitioning via HVE”.<br />
We follow the unique environmental journey of eight Burgundy estates, which illustrate to perfection<br />
how varied this wine region can be.<br />
AUTUMN 2022 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE<br />
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