OUR TERROIR

VIGNOBLE BERTINERIE, the largest « Lyra » vineyards training in France :

The National Institute of Agronomy (INRA) has studied during over 20 years the best way to increase as much as possible the quality potential of the vineyards, without supporting the equivalent of a Grand Cru Classé production cost. They have developed the “Lyra” training (double hedge of foliage).

Since 1987, Eric and Frantz BANTEGNIES have been starting to transform their classic vineyards in « Lyra » trellising, which is now finished, under the control of the INRA.

This brings to the wines a better ripeness and help to produce more complex wines.

The reds as the whites are more bodied, rich and fine and the tannins for the reds are more elegant.

The advantages of the “Lyra” are :

1. Increasing of the foliage area from 6 500 m2 (Classic AOC Côtes de Bx) to over 9 000 m2 per ha (Grand cru Classé or “Lyra” foliage area use)
   • Better evaporation-transpiration of the foliage which creates the same “micro-climate” as a Grand Cru classé planting at 10 000 vines per ha without the same costs.
   • Foliage hedges are thinner which optimize the leaves work.
2. Increasing of the sugar storage capacity during the winter
   • 80% of the sugar in the fruits is produced the year before and stored in the old wood, so 2 possibilities : increasing the number of vines or developing the linear meters of vines per Ha which is the “Lyra » training advantage.
3. Better exposure of the grapes to the sun rays
4. • Short wood pruning guarantee to keep the grapes more close to the ground to catch more reflecting heat during the summer nights, which brings a better ripeness.
   • Because the grapes are exposed on a “bottom line” down the foliage, the grapes are better exposed than with a classic system. Also less disease and faster hand harvesting.