Caladoc has never come so close to joining the appellation varietal range

In 2019, we should be able to use Caladoc in our appellation”, announced Didier Pauriol, wine grower and chairman of the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence producers’ organisation. Whilst remaining cautious, he explained that the 2017 winemaking season marked the end of experiments, paving the way for drafting of the final report which will enable INAO to issue a ruling on a topic that has taken forever to come to a conclusion. Experiments began in 2005 but were redirected by INAO. The final report therefore comes as a relief to wine growers in the appellation whose patience has been sorely tested by the experience. Possibly next year, but probably in 2019, Caladoc will be officially recognised as a secondary grape variety. “We have proven all the qualities of a varietal that has the advantage of being less sensitive to powdery and downy mildew, but also to grapevine trunk diseases”, stressed Pauriol.

Part of an overall reflection on agro-environmental issues

The varietal’s environmental credentials are pivotal as the appellation prepares to launch a debate on the incorporation of agro-environmental measures into production rules. “We have begun the process in conjunction with the two other Provence appellations, Coteaux Varois and Côtes de Provence”, added Pauriol. The aim is to try and define the same measures, which have already been implemented on most wine estates.