Futuristic odyssey In the vineyards of Sur la croupe graveleuse, le tracteur guidé par satellite, une invention favorisant une viticulture raisonnée.Bordeaux, Malartic-Lagravière is push- A satellite-guided tractor on the gravel ridge, an invention facilitating healthier viticulture.ing the boundaries of viticulture and designing innovative tools—including an ecological tractor. When members of the Bonnie family bought Château Malartic-Lagravière in 1997, they probably came across as a bit crazy. New to winemaking, they immediately set about redesigning the chai (wine cellar) and transforming the treatment of the vines by adopting tech- niques that are less harmful to the planet. These newcomers adopted an intuitive approach, but were smart enough to work with the right people, notably architect Bernard Mazières, who designed the gravity-flow chai and the superb octagonal vat room. This system reduces the handling of the grapes and makes it possible to vinify one plot at a time. Illustrating their visionary approach, these facilities, which were revolutionary at the time, have since been adopted by numerous prestigious wine estates. Other equally radical changes were made, more discreetly, in the vineyards. “From the outset, we wanted to return to tradi- tional agricultural techniques in order to respect this magnificent terroir,” explains Jean-Jacques Bonnie. The priority was to dramatically reduce the use of chemical products, which they did by eliminating herbicides and using horse-drawn plows for certain vineyards. But reviving earlier practices also meant pursuing innovation. Over three years, they developed a more environmentally friendly tractor specially for the estate. “The substances we use are 80 percent organic, but because we are in a semi-urban site, our neighbors are rather dubious when they see us applying them,” says Bonnie. “Our tractors cover the rows with tunnels so that we can collect the excess substance, which is brought away by pumps. With this technique, we can reduce the amount of treatments we use by 40 percent.” Guided by satellite, the machines target specific areas and are also quieter and use less fuel. “It was a real challenge; the technology existed, but it was difficult to apply to our vine rows, which are very close together,” he says. Thanks to these innovations, since 2015 these responsibly managed vineyards have received Haute Valeur Environnementale certification, and the wines made by Malartic- Lagravière, whose reds and whites are among the six Crus Classés in Graves, have become more refined. L’ABUS D’ALCOOL EST DANGEREUX POUR LA SANTÉ. À CONSOMMER AVEC MODÉRATION. DRINK IN MODERATION. ALCOHOL ABUSE IS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH. 223