We are firm believers in the ethos of conscious and sustainable farming and we advocate for healthy bee populations.
Most bunch grapes are self-pollinating and don’t need bees for pollination, however, the presence of bees in your vineyard indicates a healthy ecosystem and a holistic approach. A healthy ecosystem also means a happy vine.
Plants that grow around vineyards are essential to creating a healthy vine environment and these plants do need bees to pollinate them. Cover crops like mustard and vetch regulate the level of nitrogen in the vineyards and increase the organic content of the soil. These cover crops play a major role in vine health and ultimately grape quality.
A study from South Australia revealed that honeybees are actively removing the calyptra from grapevine flowers during the flowering phase, and with that increases the pollen yield by 70 % compared to collecting pollen from flowers after capfall. There are several benefits of cap removal by honeybees for the development of berries and grape bunches. One is to help reduce the occurrence of millerandage, a potential viticultural challenge where grape bunches contain berries that differ greatly in size and maturity. This impacts the quality of fruit and wine.