The truth about conventional grape/wine growing…

Most non organic or non bio-dynamic vineyards use many chemicals but the most used is systemic weedicide.

What do they use it for ?

Protecting Irrigation: Some grapevines rely on drip or micro spray irrigation tubing along the ground under the vines. Uncontrolled weeds disrupt the flow and get tangled with the tube.

Stopping Nutrient Theft: Weeds directly beneath the vine steal vital moisture and plant nutrients during critical fruit development and thy look messy.

The Problem with Systemic Weedicide

Many conventional vineyards spray systemic herbicides (like Roundup) under the vines to kill weeds down to the root.

Uptake: Systemic chemicals travel inside the plant's sap. If absorbed by green vine shoots or roots, trace residues can move directly into the grapes and cannot be washed off.

Gut Health Concerns: Consuming systemic residues raises concerns regarding long-term impacts on human gut bacteria.

Soil Biological Damage: Chemical sprays sink into the soil, harming earthworms, beneficial fungi, and micro-organisms needed for natural soil fertility.

How Bio-dynmic or Organic Vineyards Do It Differently.

Rather than use chemical sprays, they use tractor-driven machinery to manage under-vine weeds cleanly:

Undervine Cultivation: Tractor implements reach under the vine wire to physically cultivate the topsoil, pulling up weed roots or covering them with soil

Mechanical Slashing: Tractor-mounted slashers and mowers trim down grass and weeds around the vines, keeping irrigation lines clear while keeping the soil and fruit 100% chemical-free.

Thanks

Mark

Ps The Picture below shows dead grass under the vines where weedicide has been used. Check your favourite winery to see if its the same.