(Decanter) - Tests at 10 vineyards in Bordeaux and Cognac aim to discover whether wine producers could use algae from the Atlantic ocean to prevent fungal infections harming grapes.
Early results from tests at four vineyards in Bordeaux and six in Cognac show that algae could be effective against mildew and botrytis. The research might be particularly useful for biodynamic and organic producers seeking alternatives to copper treatments.
Both fungal infections can pose a significant problem for the area, mainly due to the warm, damp conditions that favour their development.

While the traditional copper solution (known as ‘bouillie bordelaise’) is effective against fungal outbreaks, some producers, particularly those who have embraced organics, have concerns about its toxicity and have long been keen to find another solution.