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Banyuls and Collioure (Côte Vermeille, Roussillon)
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Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage (North Rhône Valley)
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Crozes-Hermitage (Rhône Nord valley)
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Coteaux de Champagne (mountain of Reims, Marne valley)
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Great wines of Burgundy (Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune)
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Aspath Grands Crus a Cossaux (Rung the Thnks Thnks Thin, Slessberg, etc.)
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Vinegobles Courses in Terrasses (heritage, Ajaccio, Figari)
The Banyuls and Collioure vineyard, located on the Vermeille coast in the Pyrénées-Orientales, is an emblematic example of the difficulties encountered by winegrowers. The vines, planted in terraces on steep hills plunging towards the Mediterranean, benefit from exceptional sunshine but suffer from an extremely restrictive topography. The inhabitants of the region, historically turned towards vineyards and fishing, maintain a unique landscaped heritage which attracts many visitors each year. In this spectacular decor, mechanization is almost impossible and each treatment must deal with dizzying slopes, strong humidity linked to marine spray and increased risks of cryptogamic diseases. The drone then becomes a strategic tool to intervene quickly without damaging fragile soils.
Further north, the Rhône valley offers two world famous terroirs, the Côte-Rôtie and the Hermitage. The Côte-Rôtie, backed by steep hillsides which dominate the Rhône, requires meticulous wine work, sometimes still done by hand as the slopes are strong. The Hermitage, located opposite Tain-l’Hermitage, is marked by a mosaic of granite and clay-limestone soils which give wines an international renown. These names benefit from a passionate wine population and an economic dynamism linked to tourism and gastronomy. But they also undergo strong health pressure, because the microclimates created by the river and the hills promote the development of mildew and powdery mildew. Here again, the topography makes the passage of agricultural machinery very limited, and the use of the drone ensures effective and homogeneous protection.
Nearby, the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, the largest of the northern vintages of the Rhône valley, combines mechanizable plain areas and steep sloping hillsides. Drôme’s wine villages, carried by a local population strongly attached to the vineyard, live to the rhythm of production which represents a significant part of their economy. The weather conditions, marked by the influence of the Rhône and the northern winds, create an environment conducive to vine diseases. The sloping plots remain particularly exposed and difficult to treat, making technology of the precious drone to ensure continuity in phytosanitary programs.
In Champagne, the hillsides of the Reims mountain and the Marne valley constitute another example of vineyards where the topography and the disease pressure complicate treatments. These territories, at the heart of a wine region which brings together tens of thousands of operators and represents a major economic weight for France, are characterized by clay-limestone hills exposed to climatic variations. Strong planting densities, the exceptional value of appellations and the need for perfect regularity require extreme rigor in interventions. Frequent humidity and morning fogs promote the development of mildew and gray rot. In this context, the use of modern solutions such as the drone contributes to preserving the sanitary quality of the vineyard without damaging the floors and without immobilizing heavy machines on the slopes.
The great wines of Burgundy, divided between the Nuits coast and the Côte de Beaune, undoubtedly constitute one of the most precious wine heritage in the world. This hillsside corridor, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, brings together exceptional plots where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are expressed in all their finesse. The local population lives largely from the vine, with an economy turned towards wine, tourism and gastronomy. But these prestigious, very fragmented terroirs are also sensitive to cryptogamic diseases and climatic hazards. The density of the plantations, the tight ranks and the need to protect each foot make the treatments delicate, especially in the steep areas. The drone offers a major advantage here: to intervene quickly, with precision, while respecting the quality and the heritage value of these great vintages.
In Alsace, the Grands Coteaux vintages such as the Rangen of Thann or the Schlossberg are distinguished by their steep slopes and their remarkable exposure. The Alsatian vineyard, backed by the Vosges and turned towards the Plaine du Rhin, benefits from a dense wine -growing population and a secular tradition of terraced culture. The Alsatian microclimate, drier than the national average, does not prevent strong pressure from powdery mildew and mildew in certain humid years. The granite or volcanic hillsides, difficult to access, complicate mechanized treatments. The use of the drone is particularly suitable for ensuring uniform coverage under these demanding conditions.
Finally, the Corsican vineyards, notably in Patrimonio, Ajaccio or Figari, offer a spectacular landscape of terraces hanging on the mountains and plunging towards the sea. The island of beauty, where viticulture represents an essential part of the local economy and cultural identity, is faced with specific climatic conditions. Wind, coastal humidity and rapid temperature variations create an environment favorable to cryptogamic diseases. The topography, made of steep hillsides and stony floors, makes the passage of heavy gear very difficult. The drone is therefore essential as a modern and respectful solution, allowing Corsican winegrowers to protect their vines in conditions where few alternatives exist.
