Soil:

The Soil of La Vieille Chapelle is located on the alluvial banks of the Dordogne River:

• Sand and silt clays
• Clayey silts

• Between 0 and 1,2 meters : sand-silt dark clay with an excellent structure in aggregates belonging to the Dordogne river alluvial deposits.
  
  
• An excellent structure : lumpy and well balanced in wich the presence of organic substance is a major agronomic advantage.
  
  
• The growing environment, rich with active wildlife, is doted with important macro porosity.
  
  
• Under the alluvial sediments are the Paleothium clays, at least 25m thick

• The microclimate due to the river seems to generate a slighter pluviometry than the higher lands nearby. We obtain rich, naturally concentrated and healthy grape juices.
  
  
• A windy environment allows - even on rainy days- quick drying of both leaves and grapes. This helps to reduce treatments due to highly ventilated vines. 
  
  
• THe high level of sediment in the Dordogne enable this river to capture heat and protect the vines during high period of freezing. 
  
  
• Due to the proximity of the Dordogne river, soils are rich with organic elements, given fullbodied and structured wines.
  
• The river and its protected environment helps to a very active biodiversity and lifes :  Essential to our Organic vines and wines. 
  
  
• Last, twice a day, the powerfull tides (we are 90 kms from the seashore, but still there is 7 to 8 meters difference between low and high tides) may bring like breathing movement to the soil and terroir. 
  
  

All vines are planted in rows 1,8 meters apart at 1,2 or 1,5 metre intervals for an average density between 3700 to 4600 plants per hectare

Vine growing philosophy:

In 2008 we decided to stop "chemical herbicides". Then in 2009 we stopped the chemical pesticides. 2010 vintage was our first year of conversion to Organic agriculture (certification by Ecocert). 

2013 is our first vintage with official Organic Certification (AB). Our next target is to work the vineyard with Bio-Dynamie principles.  

Here are more details on how we conduct the vineyard : 

• VInes weed one row out of two. 

• Highest fenced surface to increase the photosynthesis

• Adapt the pruning to the age of the vines in order to respect the plants and to find a balance between quality and concentration, not quantity....
  
  
• 100% manual harvest.

• Reduction of treatments and adaptation of each plot of land to their own needs. The specificity of the environment (read above)  allows us to be audacious regarding the reduction of these treatments.

• No green harvest (better to have a good reasoning during the first pruning...)
  
  
• A systematic recording of all works in the vines in order to follow our schedule of conditions and trace-ability.