Compendium of Viticulture | Pierre Galet

PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION

This new edition has been completely recomposed and revised based on new scientific data and economic changes that have occurred in recent years. I have taken into account the new BTS programs in Viticulture-Enology and the commercial training programs interested in global viticulture.

In the publication of the 1st edition in 1970, I had indicated that "there is not, at present, an updated book that provides, in a few pages, the fundamental part of the knowledge acquired since the profound changes of the 19th century, due to the introduction or extension of various vine parasites, followed by cultural transformations (mechanization) and, for the past fifteen years, the formidable development of chemicals for viticulture: fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, growth hormones, fumigants, etc., not to mention the plastic materials gradually being used in operations, such as ties, photoliths, irrigation tubes, hail or bird nets, etc.

As in previous editions, I have aimed to provide precise definitions for common technical terms to facilitate understanding of the book.

The study of viticultural techniques has been considered in terms of their evolution with the gradual disappearance of manual labor, nearly complete mechanization of all tasks and resources, in order to reduce costs while maintaining sufficient quality to prevent consumers from turning to other fruits or beverages. It is also necessary to address the major economic issues related to the consumption of vine products worldwide, their distribution, and international competition. Since 1970, several books have been published, and I am pleased to see that they have been written by former students of the Montpellier School: CHAMPAGNOL, CRESPY, HUGLIN, REYNIER, SIMON, and MISCIILER in Switzerland, CSEPREGI in Hungary, not forgetting Professor BRANAS.

Likewise, many articles cited in this book are contributions from our French friends BAYONOVE, BOIDRON, BOUBALS, BOUQUET, CARBONNEAU, CORDONNIER, DURQUETY, FALLOT, GUILLON, LAFON, LAVIE, LEVADOUX, MARCELIN, NIGOND, POUGET, TORREGROSS, VALAT, VIDAL and from abroad: DARIS, KRIMBAS, NEDECTCHEFF, GARCIA DE LUJAN.

All of them have worked for the defense of the vine and have contributed to spreading the teachings of our Montpellier School, each adding their personal touch. From this point of view, one can contrast it with the Anglo-Saxon School, established in the new wine-producing countries such as Australia, California, New Zealand, and South Africa, where concerns about wine quality and viticultural techniques may differ significantly from those practiced in the old, traditionally wine-producing countries of Europe.

The bibliography in this book has intentionally been kept limited to avoid increasing the selling price, and we have restricted it to the cited articles in the text. This book does not include a study of grapevines or their diseases for the following reasons:

The detailed description of French and American grapevines was published, with numerous color photos, in the 2nd edition of the work "Grapevines and Vineyards of France" volume 1: "American Grapevines" (1988) and volume 2: "French Ampelography" (1990) with means for their recognition in the vineyard.

A summary of these 2 books, which include the main cultivated grapevines, is presented in the book "Compendium of Practical Ampelography," 6th edition, 1991, illustrated with numerous four-color photos.

Similarly, the study of grapevine diseases and parasites has been removed from this book to be included in the "Compendium of Grape Pathology," published in 1991, also illustrated with 200 color photographs for better identification.

A summary of these two books, including the main cultivated grapevines, is included in the book "Practical Compendium of Ampelography," 7th edition, 1998, illustrated with numerous color photos.

Similarly, I published, in 2 volumes, between 1977 and 1982, an important work on "Grape Diseases and Parasites," incorporating international knowledge. Later, I compiled a "Compendium of Viticultural Pathology," illustrated with 200 color photographs, with the 3rd edition released in 1999. For English-speaking readers, the Oenoplurimedia editions in Chaintré, 71570, have recently published translations of these two latest books:

• Grape Diseases in 1997
• Grape Varieties and Rootstock Varieties in 1998
• And this year, the translation of "General Viticulture," based on the Viticulture Compendium, is expected to be released.

I would like to thank Mr. BAYONOVE and Mr. GÜNATA for their documentation and assistance regarding aromatic substances, Mr. MARTIN for the vineyard census documents in 1988, and Mr. André BERNARD who undertook the thankless task of proofreading the texts and providing observations, as well as supplying numerous personal photographs used in this work.