Why we went organic
In the early 2000s, with conventional fruit prices in crisis, many farms around us turned to greenhouses. We chose to keep the traditional open-air crops and the landscape instead. We joined the Andalusian Organic Farming Committee (CAAE) in spring 2006, were allowed to label our produce “in conversion” in 2007 and received full certification on 25 May 2009. Certification is renewed after regular inspections.
Pest control without synthetic chemicals
Synthetic pesticides were dropped completely, and sulphur and its derivatives are the only treatment used. Beneficial insects, sheltered by hedgerows, wild grasses and crop diversity, keep pests in check, helped by scent traps and pheromone traps. The frost-free, well-ventilated valley also reduces powdery mildew on the vines.
Living soil
The soil is fed with organic fertilisers through the irrigation, green manure from mown wild grasses and sown cover crops, shredded prunings and manure from free-range livestock.
Water
Drip irrigation was installed in the late 1980s. In most of the grape arbours we still flood-irrigate the traditional way, which slows ripening and improves the firmness of the Ohanes grape.