🐝 Horse ploughing in vineyards
A horse ploughs the rows without packing down the soil the way a heavy tractor does.
A horse in the vineyard means ploughing between the rows not with a tractor but with a draught horse. The horse walks between the vine rows and pulls the plough. It is light compared with heavy machinery and does not compact the soil as much as a tractor does.
The soil stays loose, roots breathe more easily and worms and microorganisms live in it. It absorbs water better, and the vine finds it easier to draw nutrients. A horse works well on steep slopes and in narrow rows where a tractor cannot pass or work is dangerous. The method also has no exhaust fumes and little noise. But it is slower and needs a skilled worker who knows how to handle the animal.
The approach is tied to wine in general and to biodynamics, where careful treatment of the land is valued. Horses are used in various countries, above all on small estates, for example in France. For many winemakers it is not only a practice but part of the estate's image. Large vineyards still mostly work with machinery.
How it connects to Wine
🐝 Horse ploughing in vineyards → kind of → 🌿 Viticulture → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Next step
- 🌿 Biodynamic viticulture
- Part of
- 🌿 Viticulture
Frequently asked questions
Why use a horse in a vineyard?
It ploughs between rows without compacting the soil as much as a heavy tractor.
Where is this method especially handy?
On steep slopes and in narrow rows.
Why is it not used everywhere?
It is slower and needs a skilled worker.
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