| In the
vineyard, LEVIN aims for practices that
are as organic as possible. To achieve this we are selective
and meticulous in each step of our land management. We begin
with careful selection of only the best terroirs.
No-Till
Agriculture
LEVIN
wines is also committed to using no-till agriculture for the
improvement of the terroir. No-Till agriculture is the agricultural
technique of leaving the residue from previous crops to decay
on the surface. The process benefits the vitality of the terroir
and the health of the environment at large.
For LEVIN,
the immediate advantages of No-Till agriculture helps reduce
erosion, revitalizes the soil structure and soil microbiology.
Other indirect assets in the method is that it improves soil-aggregate
formation, microbial activity and reduces the need for fuel,
excess equipment and fertilizers.
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In addition, the use of this method has been shown to
be preferential to the environment in general. A study
conducted by Michigan State University found that this
method released less global warming potential points than
fields using standard plowing methods. Also, due to the
reduced need of fertilizers, no-till fields registered
fewer levels of nitrous oxide and methane gas which is
damaging to the ozone layer. |
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Cover
Cropping
LEVIN
Winery also uses the practice of cover cropping to ensure
healthy, competitive vines. This process involves growing
crops, such as barley and millet, between the vines during
winter and spring to help revitalize the soil.
The benefits
are a decreased level of erosion, regulated vine growth through
competition with other plants, improved soil fertility and
an enhanced quality of water and air.
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Grasses
that are used as cover crops also intensify the level
of bio-diversity found in the land. Increased populations
of micro and macro-organisms, earthworms, arthropods and
arachnids aid in the control of harmful insects and mites.
Finally, cover crop roots help aggregate as they penetrate
the soil. Macropores remain after the cover crop dies
making water and air ratios in the soil profile increase,
aiding in drought years.
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Rootstocks
New fields
are then planted with the best quality root stocks and experimental
clones while our 25-30 year old vineyards are retrained to
adopt these organic methods.
These
older vineyards contain classic rootstocks and will be gradually
replaced with our current rootstock 3309C, 101-14, Riporia
GM and 161-49 with our clone SB 108 - 159 selection. LEVIN
has also re-introduced good and practical vineyard practices,
seen primarily with our uprooting and replacing of dead vines.
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