The Bordeaux Grande Ferrade Vine & Wine Experimental Unit brings together the skills of three INRA departments: "Plant Biology and Improvement", "Environment and Agronomy" and "Plant Health and Environment". Its mission is to carry out experiments on the following major themes:
- reducing the use of pesticides
- adapting vineyards to climate change
- vine decline
The Experimental Unit works in close partnership with ISVV research units (SAVE, EGFV, Œnology), as well as with teams at INRA Colmar (SVQV) and Montpellier (UMR System). Programmes are conducted in partnership with the CIVB, the BIVB, the IFV and the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture.
The EU experimental site is located in the immediate vicinity of the ISVV and covers 18 ha, including 7 ha 50 currently planted with vines.
- two long-term experimental schemes designed to assess the adaptation of planting material to climate change (multi-varietal plot and multi-stock plot)
- two long-term systems designed to assess the performance and understanding of 'low-input' cropping systems
- various selection systems for new disease-resistant vine varieties
- a resource collection of over 1,000 Vitis accessions
- single-variety plots for new experiments (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon varieties).
The Experimental Unit also houses an experimental platform, run by the UMR SAVE, for evaluating the effectiveness of biocontrol solutions.
In collaboration with the Oenology Unit, the Experimental Unit carries out microvinifications for the various programmes, in particular to analyse the impact of new viticultural practices and new varieties on the organoleptic qualities of the wines.
