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In the Languedoc region of southern France, the vine disease flavescence dorée (golden yellowing) is spreading like wildfire. Organic winegrower Lionel Boutié from Coursan near Narbonne reports: "We've had golden yellowing for 20 years. We pulled out the diseased vines and the disease remained under control. But for the last four years it's been an explosion. I own a 50-hectare vineyard outright. Last year I had to uproot twelve hectares there, and this year another ten hectares, mainly Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Other winegrowers have also had to remove thousands of vines. They have already had to uproot a total of 17 hectares, but new diseased vines are always being found.
Patrick Pennavaire, winegrower in Limoux and president of the Association of Winegrowers for the Control of Harmful Organisms, cites the following as possible reasons: a possible decline in vigilance in years with fewer cases of damage, the greater susceptibility of the vines after the frost of 2021 and the ban on highly effective insecticides. The disease-causing viruses are transmitted by vine leafhoppers.
Some winegrowers are already calling for four treatments to be authorised instead of the three permitted for the HVE environmental certification and for an exemption so that organic winegrowers can also use conventional pesticides next year. The winegrowers also hope that bundled treatments on one or two days in one zone will eliminate more cicadas than if the treatments are spread over ten days.
Lionel Boutié, on the other hand, wants to concentrate more on combating the virus rather than the insect: "We are testing promising herbal preparations with organic winegrowers from other regions of France. We will also reorganise our vineyard with hedges and water points to create a habitat for beneficial insects. Plots of almost 20 hectares in one piece are no longer sustainable."
(al / source: vitisphere)