Langlois-Chateaus was among the first wineries in France to earn the “Terra Vitis” certification, awarded for employing organic, sustainable viticulture.

The Terra Vitis designation was established in 1998 by a federation of French growers and small, premium wineries to promote healthy, high quality grapes, to maintain the diversity of the fauna, to minimize chemical treatments, and prevent erosion. The federation maintains criteria and oversees verification through inspections conducted by the Véritas inspection bureau, an independent agent that verifies compliance.

Among other things, the Terra Vitis charter requires:

• Use of natural processes to control pests whenever possible and minimal use of chemical treatments
• Planting varietals appropriate to soil and the climate
• The use of ground cover and compost to provide habitat for useful micro-organisms and to prevent erosion
• Continuing education on organic control of pests and parasites
• Documentation of the winemaking process, literally, from the ground up