Haute Valeur Environnementale is a new certification that encourages and recognises efforts made by vine growers to work with respect to the environment.
The initiative started in 2012 but we are only just beginning to see a trickle of domaines being certified.
The certification isn’t just limited to wine production so you may see it on other foods that you purchase and is voluntary on the part of the grower.
Essentially it encourages growers to take the necessary steps to increase biodiversity and limit the amount of chemicals and pesticides used in the vineyard.
It’s quite separate from organic certification (which takes 3 years) and is more supple in its requirements but is a step in the right direction for conventional growers and an addition for sustainable growers.
Several practices or actions are taken into account when seeking certification. Growers are expected to maintain or increase areas of land that are semi-natural (that don’t receive chemicals, fertilisers or pesticides) such as pasture, hedges, borders, ditches etc.
They are urged to increase and diversify the species of plants cultivated and the animals raised and they are encouraged to put in bee hives and favour the presence of flowers.
Each grower has the possibility of adapting his or her practices accordingly and also in keeping with their own personal convictions. The certification attests that the grower maintains and develops biodiversity such as natural borders around and in between the parcels of vines.
You’ll start to see the logo appearing in the near future (it will always be black or ochre in colour).
