"If I have to break the new rules to save the harvest, I will": Strict copper restrictions spark outrage among organic winemakers

By Ingrid Proust

Jean-Baptiste Duquesne, owner of Château Cazebonne in Saint-Pierre-de-Mons (Gironde), expresses his outrage at the new restrictions on copper use, describing them as an incomprehensible attack. He emphasises the absence of residues in wine and copper's harmlessness to consumers. He is also deeply concerned about the consequences of the ban on dose averaging and the application intervals imposed by Anses, fearing for the survival of harvests in the face of downy mildew.

The article in Vitisphere reports on the anger among organic winemakers following the severe restrictions on copper use decided by Anses. Jean-Baptiste Duquesne, of Château Cazebonne, is cited as one of the most vocal critics of these new rules, which he considers "delusional" and a "witch-hunt against organic viticulture". He highlights the incomprehensibility of targeting copper, which, although toxic to soils at high doses, leaves no residue in wine and poses no risk to consumers. Duquesne particularly deplores the impact of the new requirements, such as the ban on dose averaging and the mandatory seven-day interval between treatments, which fail to align with climatic realities and the needs of downy mildew protection, especially after intense spells of rain. Faced with these constraints, organic winemakers, including Jean-Baptiste Duquesne, are considering extreme measures, with some prepared to break the rules or even relinquish their organic certification to save their harvests.