FINDING THE IDEAL VARIETY AND SELECTION
After deciding which is the ideal rootstock for your project, you now need to carefully choose the grapevine variety and selection. This step is essential as it commits you for many years ahead. The varieties and selections largely determine the profile of your wines and the likely yield. Faced with today’s environmental challenges, the plant material may also appear as a lasting solution for reconciling the expectations of producers with those of consumers. Being able to choose from the widest range of conventional (non-resistant) varieties and resistant selections*, you are sure to find the plant that is perfectly suited to your needs.
CONVENTIONAL VARIETIES AND SELECTIONS
ENTAV-INRA CLONAL SELECTIONS
Mercier offers the widest range of ENTAV-INRA® clones (more than 380 varieties listed and 1,200 approved clones). This French selection, recognised worldwide, guarantees traceability, agronomic precision and high-quality plant health. In addition to the catalogue’s technical data, the Mercier technical experts can give you advice and guidance based on their know-how and experience to help you make the best possible choice
UNIK® MASSAL SELECTIONS
Unik® massals are the result of between 12 and 17 years of study. Each variety meets specific viticultural requirements. They are distinguished by their wide genetic diversity, irreproachable health quality and precise agronomic and oenological characteristics. Several varieties are available. Your Mercier technician will provide you with a list of available Unik® massal selections on request.
PERSONALISED MASSAL SELECTIONS
We are able to create a personalised selection based on your existing plants. This can be interesting for maintaining a genetic stock but does not provide any agronomic or oenological guarantees. However, we do not carry out any replication of virus-infected plant material. For this, your technician will help you carry out a complete health check-up, with the expert help of the Novatech laboratory.
REGIONAL MASSAL SELECTIONS
We work closely with the relevant associations and institutions (ATVB and SICAVAC) in the main French winegrowing regions to produce and diffuse their selections. Great care has been exercised in the selection of this plant material so that the winemakers in the regions concerned can produce wines that go that much further in expressing the distinctive characteristics of their terroir.
FOCUS ON UNIK® MASSAL SELECTIONS
Unik® is a precise massal selection with superior health quality to satisfy the most demanding winegrowers. This represents the best alternative to cloning for increasing genetic diversity in your vineyard without any health, agronomic or oenological risks. The varieties resulting from this programme possess the following 3 common characteristics : protection against the main viruses affecting grapevines, genetic diversity with significant development potential and agronomic precision resulting from several years of assessments.
RESISTANTES VARIETIES*
Resistant varieties meet various environmental and societal expectations over the long term. They meet the specifications for organic agriculture and no-spray zones, while limiting costs and maintaining yields.
THE RESDUR AND FREIBURG VARIETIES
We also offer varieties from the RESDUR (INRA - IFV, France) and Freiburg University (Germany) programmes. These programmes have a solid reputation and are behind the production of more interesting varieties. For more detailed information about the agronomic and oenological benefits for your terroir, as well as the resistance of these varieties, contact your Mercier technician.
THE NATHY® VARIETIES
The NATHY® (France) varieties are the result of the plant variety creation programme carried out by Novatech-Sélection. They are obtained by natural cross-breeding. They display good oenological quality, enabling the production of single-varietal wines, and a solid genetic structure with a high level of resistance (powdery mildew, mildew and black rot). As Nathy® is a trademark, the use of these varieties is subject to conditions.
*Resistance applies only to those diseases indicated. To reduce the risk of circumvention, it is mandatory to carry out two preventive treatments per year (such treatments may simply meet the specifications for the AB label, the French label for organic agriculture certification).
FOCUS ON NATHY® RESISTANT VARIETIES
Nathy® is a creation and selection programme for naturally disease-resistant varieties obtained by natural cross-breeding. This programme is run by teams at the Novatech Company in close cooperation with recognised hybrid producers.
Nathy®-Sauvignac was the first variety available from the Nathy® programme. This variety is the result of natural cross-breeding between Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and other resistant Vitis. Listed by Mercier-Novatech and NATHY-approved, it is distinguished by its superior resistance to Black rot, Oidium and Mildew. It has the necessary qualities to produce dry white and aromatic wines and is even unblended on several great terroirs, while reducing production costs and its environmental impact.
