‘They called me crazy’: In Anjou, a winegrower shields vines from heat with trees

In the Anjou region of France, a viticulturist is turning to an old, forgotten technique to shield his vines from the escalating heat of climate change: planting trees. Daniel Macault, who started this initiative in 2018, is gradually transforming his 64-hectare organic vineyard by interspersing fruit trees like apple and apricot among the grapevines.

Macault's approach, which integrates agroforestry principles, aims to create a more resilient and sustainable vineyard ecosystem. The trees provide shade, help retain soil moisture, and can potentially improve biodiversity, offering a natural buffer against extreme temperatures. Initially met with skepticism, his methods are now drawing increasing interest from other winemakers facing similar climatic pressures.

This innovative yet traditional practice reflects a growing awareness within the wine industry of the urgent need to adapt to environmental shifts. By embracing a more diversified farming system, Macault and others like him are pioneering a path toward a more climate-resilient future for viticulture, demonstrating that nature-based solutions can be effective in preserving traditional agricultural practices.

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For the first few years, they called me crazy