Fighting vine fungal diseases in times of climate change

Disease pressure is rising, and the vineyard of tomorrow will need more than chemistry alone. Precision viticulture is showing the way forward, where combining cultural practices, smarter spraying, and digital tools is becoming the recipe for resilience.

In France, sanitary pressure has reached record levels. Cognac vintages 2023 and 2024 made it clear: downy mildew is striking earlier every year. Mild winters and frequent rain boost contamination risks and make vineyard operations harder to conduct.

And the pressure isn’t just biological. Regulation is tightening too. Active substances are being withdrawn, and allowed spray doses are shrinking. Growers must now rethink protection strategies and adapt them to both the new climate conditions and the rulebook.

Three levers: practices, optimal spraying, and data

How do we respond? By working on three fronts.

• Cultural practices such as leaf removal and careful nitrogen management improve canopy aeration and limit vigor, making vines less susceptible.
• Optimized spraying is also crucial: precise sprayer calibration and targeted applications boost efficiency while reducing inputs.
• Technology brings the final lever, helping growers anticipate risks instead of reacting to them.

Decision support: the grower’s co-pilot

Decision Support Tools (DSTs) analyze agronomic and weather data to deliver clear answers. Is the vineyard at risk of downy mildew in this moment? When will the next contamination event strike? By modeling vine growth and pathogen cycles, these tools highlight critical windows for action.

“With the climate becoming more unpredictable, DSTs are turning into essential allies — especially when paired with accurate weather forecasts. Cross-checking several sources of data sharpens decision-making.”
— Nathalie Poppe, Technical Manager, Phloème Conseil

Vintel®: seeing the invisible

Among crop protection tools, Vintel® is making its mark. It combines phenological models, epidemiological simulations, and treatment performance analysis. Its edge? The ability to “see the invisible.” By estimating pathogen development before symptoms appear — from winter egg maturation to first infections — Vintel® gives growers a head start.

Drawing on weather station data and forecast models, it helps pinpoint the best moment to spray and renew coverage, saving time and inputs while increasing effectiveness.

Innovation meets experience

Of course, no tool replaces the grower’s eye. But they can enrich it.

“Vintel® stands out for its ability to anticipate symptom emergence and track winter egg maturation. It helps growers fine-tune their protection plans. Experience remains essential — but DSTs bring valuable support alongside it.”
— Nathalie Poppe, Technical Manager, Phloème Conseil

A new roadmap for vineyard protection

Climate change and regulations are rewriting the rules of vineyard management. The only sustainable path combines good vineyard practices, precise treatments, and technological innovation. By blending field experience with digital precision, the wine industry has the keys to building durable protection strategies — and safeguarding vineyards for the next generation.