The High Environmental Value Certification (HVE3).
The estate has made a strong commitment by joining the Bordeaux Wine Environmental Management System in 2017 and by taking concrete actions towards the High Environmental Value level 3 certification.
There are multiple motivations: protection of the environment and biodiversity all around the area of Château Fontesteau, involvment of our team on a daily basis and ensuring the sustainability of the economic activity.
As a global management tool for the company, this approach reveals a real desire and commitment from both the management team and our employees.
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The promise of the High Environmental Value is an agriculture :
which integrates and develops biodiversity in the management of the vineyard.
which limits inputs as much as possible (phyto, fertilizers, energy, external food, etc.). For an agriculture that is both autonomous and not very damaging to the soil, water and air.
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Level 3 certification consists of a tool for measuring practices that allow the evaluation of the agro-ecological performance of the farm as a whole.
The certification covers all of the vineyard's activities: harvest, livestock and the environment of the plots and animals.
Level 3 is validated by audits that can be managed on a collective level at the territory level.
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High Environmental Value farms are based on the principles of agro-ecology :
They design production systems that rely on the functionalities offered by ecosystems (soil fertility, protective fauna for crops, plant cover that promotes soil life, permanent grasslands).
They ensure agricultural production while aiming to reduce pressure on the environment (reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, limitation of the use of inputs, preservation of water resources).
They use natural elements as a production factor by maintaining its renewal capacity (green manure covers, agroforestry).
They promote diversity in production systems and restore a diversified landscape mosaic (crop diversification, rotations, implementation of agro-ecological infrastructure).
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Environmental performance indicators are integrated into our vineyard management system, allowing us to enter into a continuous improvement process with regard to environmental issues.
Daily actions.
The history of Fontesteau is very old and should continue for a long time, that is why the managers of the estate wish to preserve the exceptional environment of the domain and the men who work there within the framework of wine production and sustainable development.
Thus, the objectives set are :
to minimize the impact of the viticultural activity on the environment
an ecological enhancement of the site and of the biodiversity
to take into account the well-being and safety of employees and their training
taking into account the demand of wine lovers and final consumers