After winter pruning, a fundamental step that designs the future architecture of the vine and foreshadows the promises of the vintage, the vineyard is dotted with a multitude of cut vine shoots. Far from being considered mere waste, this wood, the result of the previous year's growth, represents a precious resource for the winegrower. This is when the shredding of the vine shoots takes place, a fundamental practice in our viticultural approach.

At Château Cazebonne, we attach paramount importance to this step. The vine shoots are meticulously shredded and left directly on the soil of the plot. This action is not insignificant; it is part of a global approach to respecting living organisms and perpetuating the fertility of our soils. Indeed, these plant residues, once reduced to chips, will naturally decompose. This decomposition process is essential: it returns to the soil some of the organic matter taken up by the vine during its cycle. It is a truly virtuous circle that nourishes the terroir, improves its structure and promotes microbial activity, ensuring a healthy and balanced viticultural ecosystem. The role of compost and other organic amendments is to enrich the soil with nutrients and contribute to its water retention capacity, major assets for the resilience of the vine in the face of climatic hazards, particularly in a context of climate change.

This approach, which is akin to a form of "giving back to the earth" what it has offered us, is in perfect harmony with our philosophy at Château Cazebonne. We are committed to preserving and enriching every plot, not only for traditional grape varieties but also for the ancestral Bordeaux varieties that we are replanting with passion. This long-term work, a true act of rehabilitation of a forgotten viticultural heritage, as described in the reference book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages" by Jean-Baptiste Duquesne from Éditions BBD, is made possible thanks to the commitment and invaluable support of many wine lovers. Your trust in our wines allows us to continue this mission and breathe new life into grape varieties that have so much to contribute to the aromatic and structural richness of the Bordeaux wines of today and tomorrow.

We invite you to discover the fruits of this passionate work by finding our cuvées for sale in the Cazebonne shop. To deepen your knowledge of the fascinating history of Bordeaux grape varieties and understand the importance of this approach, we also offer you the opportunity to receive the digital version of the book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages", directly by e-mail by visiting our website.

What is the shredding of vine shoots?

The shredding of vine shoots is a viticultural operation consisting of reducing the vine wood cut during winter pruning into small fragments. These plant residues are then left on site, on the soil of the plot. It is a practice that is fully in line with an approach of sustainable agriculture and respect for living soils.

The agronomic virtues of shredding

This simple practice has considerable agronomic benefits. As they decompose, the shredded vine shoots return some of their organic matter to the soil, which is essential to nourish the vine for its future cycle. This process also enriches the soil's humus, improves its structure, and promotes microbial activity, creating a more balanced and resilient underground ecosystem. This contributes to better water retention and a natural supply of nutrients, thereby reducing the need for external inputs.

When to shred the vine shoots?

The shredding of vine shoots generally takes place after winter pruning, between January and March, before the vines' bud burst. The objective is to leave enough time for the residues to begin decomposing before the full resumption of vegetation.

The shredding process

After the pruning stage, the vine shoots lie on the ground. To begin with, the winegrower pulls the wood, that is to say, they manually remove the entire shoots that have fallen between the rows. Next, a mechanical shredder passes through the rows to crush and scatter the shoots into small pieces. These fragments are spread evenly over the soil surface, ready to be integrated by biological activity. For vineyards practising agroecology in viticulture, and particularly those using horses in the vines, the shredder can be animal-drawn to minimise soil compaction.

The right equipment for shredding

To shred the vine shoots, different types of shredders are used. They can be mounted on or trailed by a tractor, and their design varies according to the power required and the working width. There are hammer, blade, or flail shredders. The choice of equipment will depend on the topography of the land, the planting density and the quantity of shoots to be treated. At Château Cazebonne, we favour suitable equipment that respects the structure of our soils.

The Château Cazebonne approach: shredding and biodiversity

At Château Cazebonne, the shredding of vine shoots is a fundamental practice. It integrates perfectly with our philosophy of working biodynamically and preserving biodiversity. By naturally enriching our soils, we promote an essential balance for the vigour of our vines and the typicity of our wines. It is an indispensable link in our virtuous chain, where every action contributes to the health of our terroirs and the quality of our cuvées, including those made from vanished Bordeaux grape varieties that we are proud to reintroduce.

This comprehensive approach, where respect for the soil is paramount, bears witness to our commitment to the environment and the authenticity of our wines. It is thanks to the support of the wine lovers who adopt our cuvées that we can continue this fundamental work, and in particular the rehabilitation of ancient grape varieties, whose fascinating history is detailed in the book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages", which you can download for free on our website. To test your oenological knowledge on these subjects, we invite you to explore our oenological quizzes, and of course, to discover the expression of this living terroir through our wines available on our online shop.