On Monday June 3, 2024, UniLaSalle Beauvais planted 5,000 vines on one of its farm plots, located along the road leading to Crèvecœur le Grand. A novelty with roots in Beauvaisis' past!
300 years ago, vineyard hillsides in Beauvaisis!
According to the literature, Picardy's vineyards flourished from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century, after virtually disappearing in the 20th century. It has been growing again since the beginning of the 21st century*.
5000 vines planted on one hectare
Four grape varieties have been planted. Three white varieties: muscat, chenin and chardonnay, and one red variety: pinot noir. This multi-varietal approach will enable students to carry out comparative studies and produce blended wines. For the vines, the choice fell on a 60 cm high graft. This type of graft has a number of advantages: it prevents the graft from being freed, avoids any risk of pruning wounds on the stock caused by game, and allows for faster planting. The 5,000 vines were planted one metre apart, with a two-metre row spacing to allow for the passage of the small equipment already on the farm. To prevent the vine's root network from remaining on the surface, the plot was grassed over. This grass will compete with the vines, forcing them to develop their root systems deeper down.
The choice of a small area of 1 hectare is explained by the pedagogical objective of the project, rather than its productive purpose. Indeed, the planting of vines will be the subject of new teaching methods from the start of the school year.
Technical support...
The PVVL (Pépinière viticole du Val de Loire) nursery near Angers in the Maine et Loire region is providing technical support for the project. A partner chosen on the advice of an Alumni (Alexandre Smessaert, see below). PVVL supports a number of farmers in the region who wish to develop their winegrowing activities. It supports UniLaSalle throughout the planting process (choice of plants, grape varieties, soil preparation, planting date).
During the planting phase, which will take place over 4 to 5 years, the same advisor will return on site to assess the progress of the vines and advise on various parameters.
...And the support of a neighboring alumni!
Four years ago, Alexandre Smessaert restored the vines to their rightful place on his 3-hectare farm in Roy-Boissy, a few kilometers from the Ferme du Bois plot. An alumnus of the school, the engineer has remained close to UniLaSalle. He will support the team with advice that complements that of PVVL.
A project led by UniLaSalle students as part of the co-piloting of its farms
Since 2004, with the Maurepas site (Normandy), UniLaSalle has had two polyculture-breeding application farms (360 hectares + 90 cows). Today, although employees are present on both sites, a single management team is responsible for all agricultural activities. In 2020, with the aim of providing ever more innovative training, the farms' management team has chosen to involve students in the management of the two UniLaSalle sites. These student-engineers have formed an association called AgroTeam. A bold choice that explains the involvement of young people in the school's diversification projects.
* Duchaussoy 1926 p. 430
