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What is organic viticulture?
Organic viticulture is basically the same as organic viticulture. The basic principles are - in Germany - the EU organic wine regulation, the EU wine market regulation and its supplementary regulations, the wine law and the wine regulation, the guidelines of the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV) and the plant protection law. The EU Organic Wine Regulation defines minimum requirements for organic farming. Associations for organic agriculture and viticulture (e.g. ECOVIN, Bioland, Naturland, Demeter) define much stricter criteria to which their members must submit.
In organic viticulture, only organic plant protection products are allowed, herbicides and synthetic(chemical) pesticides are generally prohibited. Instead, soil health, species diversity(biodiversity), the use of plant strengthening agents and beneficial organisms, and the greening of the vine rows are an important focus of vineyard management. Fertilisation of the soil is also largely organic (e.g. with manure).
Organic viticulture pursues a holistic, sustainable approach and regards the vineyard as an ecosystem whose integrity and functionality has a significant influence on the quality of the wine.