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All of the Cazes' vineyards are situated on clay and limestone rolled pebbles formed from the alluvium swept down the slopes of the Corbières mountains. One particular feature of the micro-climate is that it is intensely dry; most of the land, indeed, is in an area where annual rainfall is less than 400 mm (16 ins). Two major benefits include an almost non-existent danger from parasitic fungus type diseases, and the fact that the natural undergrowth dries up exceedingly fast once the hot weather starts. The result is a third benefit : the yields are naturally very low.
An ideal environment – hence their move to alternative cultivation methods
To all intents and purposes, they abandoned chemical weed-killing in favour of ploughing over 15 years ago and became officially organic in 1998. In practice this means they are strictly supervised by ECOCERT, the independent body empowered to issue organic certification by the French state. Actually they have been using biodynamic practices since 1997. They even make a large proportion of their own compost based on the only organically raised ewes in the Roussillon, enriched with 7 biodynamic leavening agents. Under the name BIODYVIN, biodynamic practice is also controlled by ECOCERT.
Today, Domaine Cazes is the largest wine growing domaine in France in biodynamic production. They lay huge emphasis on producing the quality that truly reflects the ‘spirit’ of the land and only use natural yeasts during the traditional maceration process.
They have one overriding aim : living vines in living land
Nowadays they plant cereals among the vines to drive life and oxygen deep into the soil while ploughing encourages microbic life and helps it assimilate humus. A variety of biodynamic preparations encourage sound soil structure and balance, as well as encouraging the vines’ roots to plunge deep into the land. They strengthen their natural resistance by watering the stock regularly with a tisane (tea) made from stinging nettles. Just a few of the ways they help nature to thrive.
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