Incidence of the use of weedkillers in French wine regions

Particularly attractive orange tint in Cheverny vineyard

Comment from Laurent Saillard that deserves greater prominence:

'Palmares of the wine regions using herbicides as the only mean of weed management (in percentage of the whole area)*:

Champagne: 97%
Beaujolais: 96%
Languedoc-Roussillon: 92%
Val de Loire: 91%
Bordelais: 89%
Alsace: 87%
Bourgogne & Provence: 79%

(2006 numbers courtesy of Le Rouge & Le Blanc, Spring 2009)

Also note that the herbicide used in 70% of these cases is Glyphosate, which was until 2000 exclusively produced by Monsanto under the brand ROUNDUP...

Should I remind you that in the 1960s and 1970s, Monsanto was the leading producer of Agent Orange for US Military operations in Vietnam...'

lerougeetleblanc.com/weblog.php?id=C0_5_1

Blitzed in Cheverny

* Clarification: Although the figures would appear to be correct coming from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, they refer to the incidence of the use of weed killers in French vineyards and are not necessary the sole means used to control weeds. For instance the vineyard might to be partly grassed over with weed killer used under the vines.

•••

The latest edition of Le Rouge et Le Blanc has an article on the Cher Valley:

'Plaisirs du Cher

Loire > Touraine > Vallée du Cher

Loire > Touraine > Vallée du Cher : Domaines Vincent Ricard, des Bois Vaudons, Pascal Potaire, Clos Roche Blanche, du Bois Lucas, Élise Brignot, de la Lunotte, des Maisons Brûlées, du Poncer, de Bel Air.'