What is grattage? The literal translation from French would be ‘scratching’ but what does that mean when related to vineyards?
Grattage is the practise of scratching the soil. A light cultivation that doesn’t go deep down but literally ‘scratches’ the surface of the soil, aerating it and dislodging superficial weeds.
In the picture above you can see Urbanne, one of Philippe Chigard’s beautiful horses at work in one of the Vouvray vineyards. She is performing grattage. It can of course also be done by tractor.
