Jean-Pierre and Brice Cousinié recommend a new approach to viticulture for a better expression of teroir. 

Santiago, 8th March 2011
Jean-Pierre and Brice Cousinié, advisors for the Partner company, emphasize the significant potential of Chile regarding the "teroir" and recommend a better collaboration between agronomists and œnologists through plant nutrition.

 Via the advisory work in wine agronomy conducted by the Partner company in Chile for 6 years now via its PartnerVid activity, Jean-Pierre and Brice Cousinié have come to lend their expertise toward several vineyards in the Chilean regions of Maipo, Colchagua, Cachapoal, Leyda and Casablanca.

Let's take a look at their main findings and recommendations.
A teroir not entirely exploited yet
In a general way, most of the Chilean winemakers adopt some solutions and some products that do not enhance the teroir of the country. The massive application of generic products (potassium nitrates, bore), the use of superficial solutions or the intensive irrigation do not necessarily correspond to the quality requirements of the Chilean industry.
Ulike the Old World, Chile has new or blank soils that quickly respond to a plant nutrition that is better balanced and less concentrated in its composition.
For a parcel of Merlot for example, a grape not adapted to the hot and dry climate of Chile, the application of Ecovid® Terroir in the soil has allowed for the modification of its structure, making it lighter. It has also optimized the microbiological activity and it has allowed for the development of several radicels and of a deeper root system, producing a wine of better expression (valley of Maipo).

Giving a personnality to the wine.
The purpose of the work performed by  PartnerVid in collaboration with MM. Cousinié is to allow the teroir to give a true personality to the Chilean wine by placing the nutrition of the vine in the center of concerns.

By doing so, the experts admit to face a different conception that consists in massive application of fertilizing products.
The products issued from the plant nutrition (Nutrivid® and Ecovid®) put emphasis on balance over quantity: a small quantity of well-balanced elements will give better resuls than a large quantity of elements.
Therefore, for a preventive treatment against sag, the Nutrivid® Floración product, that includes a low concentration of bore and zinc, gives better results than some products that can contain up to ten times more.
Reinforcig the links between agronomy and œnology
In France like in Chile, the Cousinié Father and Son achieve a real "educational" work to show the importance of prior work in the vineyards to reach the œnological objectives. The works at agronomic level have an unquestionable impact on the quality of wine and the work between these two specialities must be done "hand in hand", insist the experts.

Finally, the plant nutrition can significantly reduce the needs for water in the vine, and therefore preserve the natural resources of the Earth for a better result.

For more details about the Cousinié method (http://www.cousinie.com/en )
For more details about PartnerVid, department of plant nutrition of Partner