France – Gironde : Tree planting amidst vineyards in Saint-Emilion

Background & challenges

Coraline and Victor, brother and sister, are the fourth generation of winegrowers who own and co-manage the Cormeil estates in Saint Emilion (33). Together they took over the family business in 2012.

They strongly believe sustainable development and the agro-ecological transition must involve collaboration and knowledge sharing between winegrowers. They belong to several research groups on agroecology and sustainable development: DEPHY, AGR’EAU Adour Garonne, Les Grappes Bios, Association pour le Système de Management Environnemental du vin de Bordeaux, La Belle Vigne.

They now wish to further explore this approach by going into agroforestry (trees linked with crops or livestock). On the one hand, the  project will plant trees both within and around a large part of the vineyard.

This agroforestry viticulture project in Saint-Emilion (Gironde) aims to incorporate:

• bands of fruit and country trees within the vineyard plots, between the rows of vines;
• thickets/copses along the edges of the plots;
• a riparian hedge along the edge of a pond, to provide a means of attaching the vines.

In the heart of the vineyard, between the château and winery, there will be an agroforestry market garden based on a modern-day version of the joualle method. The joualle is a ancient cultivation system dating back to the beginning of the Gallo-Roman era. It brings together vines growing on fruit trees and several other crops, all on the same plot. This innovative approach, combining vine growing, market gardening, fruit trees, and hedgerows, helps counter the vulnerability of highly specialised farms: diversifying activities makes them more resilient.

Planting 1,757 long lasting trees aims to:

• significantly curb soil erosion by improving water infiltration through the root system and protecting the trees from the strong westerly winds;
• enrich biodiversity with multi-layered woody vegetation and a variety of species. Planting these trees will bringcrop protection agents to the plots, as well as also providing food for the fauna already living here. The various parts of the trees will also provide a support system for for biodiversity (shelter, food) and serve as a passageway for wildlife;
• diversify income generated by the farm and make better capable of tackling the challenges facing agriculture today, and tomorrow.

Works timeline

• 2022: soil preparation
• 2022 to February 2023: planting the first batch of trees
• 2023 to March 2024: planting the last batch of trees
• 2023 – 2027: monitoring and maintaining the plantations, replanting if necessary