At Château de La Dauphine, we conduct experiments every year. The latest one, which will span several years, aims to rebalance the proportion of fungi and bacteria in our soils. In line with our organic and biodynamic initiatives, we wish for our soils to recover the balance lost due to previous, sometimes poorly managed, agricultural practices, and for microbial life to be as healthy and rich as possible. To date, in Fronsac and the Libournais region, we are the only ones attempting this experiment.
Conventional agricultural practices disrupt the balance of microorganisms: increasing bacteria and decreasing fungi. Cultivated soils become depleted of fungi, which nevertheless play a major role in the creation of humus (the upper layer of soil favorable to the development of microbial life), essential for the good health of the vineyard. Conversely, bacteria are rather favored by conventional agricultural practices, even though they do not perform the same functions of organic matter degradation (especially lignin) and create a less stable and lower-quality humus.
Specifically, we have sprayed our plots with a preparation based on polysaccharides, organic acids, and trace elements, which will stimulate and increase the active humifying fungi in our soils. These fungi, beneficial for the good health of our vineyard, will develop over the next 6 months, which will considerably improve our terroir. Indeed, thanks to these fungi present in the upper soil layer, nutrients will be better stored, and our vines will then be able to draw upon them throughout the year.
We eagerly await the first results, which we hope will demonstrate a positive impact and a better fungi ratio in the soil.
