Interesting Swiss documentary about the use of pesticides in the vineyard, particularly looking at the use of helicopters to spray vines where the steep slopes makes this an attractive option. Even if the pesticides residues found in wine and our food are tiny, what is the long-term effect of this combination of chemicals on our health? The documentary explains that we do not yet know.  

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See also:

'Herbicide drift stunts prize-winning vines

An award-winning Villa Maria Hawke's Bay vineyard (New Zealand - Jim) may lose millions of dollars after a herbicide drifted over its vines.

Howard Vineyard owner Brian Howard, of Bayview, north of Napier, said weedkiller 2,4-D had been sprayed nearby in late September and had drifted over his vineyard, stunting the growth of vines and wiping out at least six hectares of his 10-hectare crop.

Read the rest here.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/business/national-farm/4292183/Herbicide-drift-stunts-prize-vines

From La Nouvelle République 13th October 2009:

In what may prove to be a highly significant landmark case a court in Poitiers has ruled that a farmer, Pascal Choisy from Celle-l'Evescault south west of Poitiers) contracted Parkinson's disease from prolonged contact with pesticides and other chemical agricultural products. Choisy started working on his cereal and beef-raising farm in 1982. In 2000 the first signs of Parkinson's emerged. In October 2007 he made a claim against his medical insurance company that his disease was work related.

On 6th April 2009 Le comité de reconnaissance des maladies professionnelles of Nantes showed the link between his disease and his agricultural work. This has now been confirmed by the court in Poitiers. Although there are two other similar cases going through the French legal system, this is the first time that a French court to rule that there is a link between pesticides and Parkinson's Disease.

Use of weedkiller in vineyards in Saint-Georges-sur-Cher

Depressing report on vitisphere.com on the increased use of pesticides (2% increase) recorded in 2008, despite the French government wishing to reduce their use – to reduce by 50% by 2018 'ideally'. France is the biggest user of pesticides in Europe and viticulture at 15% the important sector using them on 3.5% of the area on which pesticides are used. Although insecticides were marked down, fungicides and herbicides were both up.

The story is also covered on Hervé Lalau's Chroniques Vineuses