30/03/2026
What is regenerative viticulture and how are we incorporating it at Chard Farm
The time has come not just to sustain, but to regenerate.
Regenerative viticulture is a relatively new term within the wine industry - borrowed from regenerative agriculture: “farming that focuses on improving soil function, enhancing biodiversity, rebuilding organic matter, and restoring natural plant and ecosystem cycles. Its goal isn't just to sustain the vineyard environment but to actively improve it over time. In practice, this might mean multi-species cover crops, reduced or no tillage, integrated livestock, or encouraging native plants and insect life, creating self-sustaining, biologically active soils that support healthier vines and greater resilience in the face of growing climate extremes.” - Emma Jenkins MW
Here at Chard Farm, our regenerative program focuses on maintaining and enhancing soil and vine health in the vineyard. We are currently achieving this by no or limited soil tillage. Direct drilling of cover crops, crimping and topping of those cover crops instead of mowing. Chard Farm has a comprehensive cover cropping program that focuses on building and maintaining healthy soil. The cover crops have also significantly increased our beneficial insect population, reducing the need for chemicals across our vineyards. Using cover crops has also helped reduce our need for tractors mowing - this helps reduce diesel use, which is not only great for us as we have more time to focus on the vines themselves, but also is a step closer to lowering diesel emissions.