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What is organic viticulture?
Organic viticulture attaches great importance to environmental protection and is the prerequisite for a wine to be labelled as organic wine and bear the EU organic seal.
Organic wine must be produced from organically grown grapes and fulfil the requirements of the EU Organic Wine Regulation, which are also implemented in German wine law. In addition, the EU Wine Market Regulation and its supplementary provisions, the Wine Act and the Wine Ordinance, the guidelines of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the Plant Protection Act apply in Germany. The EU Organic Wine Regulation defines minimum requirements for organic farming. Associations for organic farming and viticulture (e.g. ECOVIN, Bioland, Naturland, Demeter) define much stricter criteria to which their members must adhere.
In organic viticulture, the vineyard is viewed holistically as an ecosystem; soil health and species diversity(biodiversity) play a major role. Only biological agents are permitted for plant protection; herbicides and synthetic(chemical) pesticides are generally prohibited. Fertilisation is also largely organic (e.g. with manure). The use of plant strengthening agents and beneficial organisms as well as the cover crop the use of plant strengthening agents and beneficial organisms as well as the cultivation of the vine rows are further characteristics of organic viticulture.