« MAKING WINE AND CREATING OUR HOME IN THE SAME PLACE, IN THE HEART OF OUR VINEYARDS, GIVES US GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF OUR WORK. »
Brigitte Chevalier
Cébène: agroecology in the service of terroir
Cébène, the art of preserving the quality of our soil
The key challenge today is to preserve our soils by encouraging biological activity. We constantly optimise natural resources and biological interactions by ensuring the renewal of biomass, the diversity of micro-organisms, the preservation of mycorrhizal exchanges, soil fertility and genetic diversity. Ultimately, this allows each vine to find its own balance. These are all part of the response to the climate challenge that is just around the corner, and this is why we’ve been committed to an agroecological transition for over 10 years.
Agroecology is fundamental to us. This practice, or more precisely these practices, helps to maintain and boost the soil’s capacity to renew itself organically, biologically and sustainably, as well as protecting and preserving biodiversity. Irrigation is prohibited. This regenerative viticulture serves our demanding terroir, consuming less energy and less water. It is also virtuous, helping sequester carbon in the soil.
Our organic and agroecological practices are essential in our aim to create terroir-driven wines that shun artifice.
Cébène: organic farming
Our Ecocert-certified estate has been farmed organically since its creation. We have never used any synthetic products to weed, fertilise or treat our vines. No pesticides are used in our farming.
We also apply specific preparations in the vineyards to preserve the full potential of our terroir: this is essential ti keep the soil alive.
Cébène: our commitment to preserving our terroir
Drawing on our regular observations and experience, our strategies take into account each plot’s specific characteristics: moderate, non-systematic organic fertilisation, light scarification of the soil, growing soil cover for as long as possible in the year, development of vine auxiliaries, grafting, regenerating older vines, and agricultural common sense.
Our attachment to rural values and our commitment to practices that respect the ensewvironment, the soil and people are the driving forces behind the creation of our artisan wines. We also take great care to maintain the low dry stone walls built by our ancestors to provide shelter for local wildlife (lizards, insects, birds).
Some of our recognised agroecological practices
Physiological balance
Helping the plant to find its physiological balance means adapting farming methods on a case-by-case basis. For us, grass cover is an effective way of regulating this physiological balance and encouraging the root system to develop properly.
By making our vineyards and their surroundings hospitable to flora and fauna, we are preserving and promoting biodiversity. This richness is essential to the functioning of ecosystems and helps maintain the balance of natural environments.
Hedges
The maintenance and planting of trees and hedges formed by local species around our vines protect them from climatic excesses. It also creates refuge areas that provide food resources for wildlife, and contribute to the aesthetic our small vineyard plots.
These ecological corridors are complemented by spontaneously-sown strips of grass between the rows of vines. The high terraces of Les Bancèls are also home to local species which are adapted to the soil and climate. They also provide excellent support for biodiversity on these steeply sloping plots and protect the soil from erosion.
Sustainable initiatives in Occitanie (Terre de Vins).
A wide range of fauna lives at Cébène, including migratory and sedentary birds, bats (housed in shelters built by us), as well as wild and more discreet fauna. When conditions allow, we welcome sheep who come here in winter to graze.
Pastoralism is a more sustainable practice which improves the microbial life of the soil. We also repair and rebuild the dry stone walls which are home to many of the vine’s natural friends.
Work done by hand and bush vines
The layout of the Cébène estate requires a lot of manual work:
Work done by hand, and an in-depth look at bush vines (Vitisbio).
Domaine de Cébène is proud to participate in the reuse of wine bottles and the deposit system. The benefits of reuse are very clear, even when compared with recycling:
– Reduced environmental impact (water savings of up to 50%, energy savings of 76% and a 79% reduction in greenhouse gases).
– Promotion of the circular economy and local networks, creating jobs that cannot be relocated by the various partners
A pictogram on labels that is easily identifiable by consumers.
Old Vine Conference
Cébène est sponsor de la Old Vine Conference, mouvement international initié par plusieurs Masters of Wine, engagé pour la défense des vieilles vignes et la valorisation de leurs vins.
