The effort to preserve and restore biological diversity permeates our daily lives in Tokaj, Villány and in our sparkling wine aging cellar in Budapest. Over the past decades, we have worked hard to create self-sustaining ecosystems in which biodiversity does not disturb the external ecological community. In this effort, we are either our own neighbors, or we cooperate effectively in the community at large.
On our parcels of land on vineyards Medve (Tokaj) and Makár (Villány/Siklós), surrounded by forest, no chemicals or herbicides are used. The healthy existence of wildlife, and number of birds and insects is a testament to what we do. We encourage this biodiversity by our strategic planting of shrubbery through the vineyards.
Weed control in both regions is largely carried out in the traditional way, with straw mowing. The ground surface does not get light or air due to the thick blanket, so weeds do not grow on it. The collection and use of rainwater is key: on the high-elevation Makár vineyard, for example, we collect the rainwater mixed with the soil that runs off the vineyard in two pools, which we reuse for irrigation.
Another key to the creation of a holistic biosphere is the unification of our vineyards. The first big challenge for us was the melioration/enhancement of the Birsalmás vineyard in Mád. Today we can safely say this is one of the most beautiful vineyards in the wine region.
The Medve in Bodrogkeresztúr has also been replanted: the pre-war cultivars had been replaced by pole-cultivated grapes in the 1950s, which resulted in an unkempt overall image.
To correct this without doing any damage, we improved the topsoil layer for the new plantings, at a depth of 10 cm [4 in], so as not to destroy the precious life circulating in the substrate.
Large and non-adjacent areas had to be gradually cleaned over the years, but we are on the right track, our plantations have been revitalized nicely. When possible, the rows are kept on grass, increasing the agricultural area, and protecting the soil from erosion. As a result, the subterraneous world has revived. Earthworms of all types have returned, beneficial fungi and bacterial strains have reactivated, all have improved the quality of the soil.
It has been a challenge when the lawn and other green spaces become competitors of the grapevines for the absorption of precipitation. This is why our plantations must be monitored so carefully so the vines do not weaken. We help the development of the grapes by supplementing them with nutrients and by breaking up the soil in the rows. We intentionally choose “helping” weeds (in Tokaj, e.g.: white clover, red clover, camelina, blue cornflower, ryegrass, meadow fescue, blue fescue) to cover the rows and between rows. By planting trees and bushes, we create island forests for the birds to build habitats. In Tokaj, we have chosen larger animals to be our collaborators. On vineyard Medve, Southdown Babydoll sheep have found a home and are helping us with the natural large and non-adjacent areas. Our efforts of gradually improving the ecosystems over the years are paying off, we are on the right track to having our plantations nicely revitalized.
The 12 – 16°C [ 54 – 61°F] temperature of our cellar in Budafok, regardless of the season, means a naturally cooled storage capacity all year round that does not burden the environment. In Villány, the placement of solar panels in the winery was a big step forward.
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