the essential
Producing lavender in addition to vines is the project of David and Stéphanie Girard. Because of the vagaries of nature, they decided to take the lead and diversify. An idea that works for them.
Diversify and reinvent yourself. Faced with the crisis experienced by the Lot wine industry, some professionals have no other choice but to uproot their vines because of the climate impact. If the State and communities try to help them with subsidies or training to diversify, like the Grand Cahors and the Lot Chamber of Agriculture which offer training for the cultivation of almond trees , pistachio or chestnut trees, some have taken the lead in producing new crops.
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Lavender in addition to vines, due to natural hazards
This is particularly the case of Stéphanie and David Girard in Villesèques. The couple settled on the Cadurcian plateau in 2006 by taking over an operation comprising 14 hectares of vines. “We had a series of hazards between the hail in 2010 which affected 100% of production, the frost in 2012 and 2017. That’s when I said to myself that we had to do something,” explains David Girard. The winegrower learns about crops that could adapt to the Lot climate, but also to historical crops. He started by planting olive trees, but the frost of 2012 significantly impacted his production. The winegrower does not despair and turns to lavender. “It's not a difficult crop to master. It requires work but not as much as vines. The advantage is that the harvests are harvested at the same time,” he says. With his wife, he began planting the first plants in 2020. Like their vines, their lavender is organic and no pesticides are spread on their land.
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“The project was to make essential oils, in bulk, in bulk or 1/2 large,” adds his wife. Stéphanie thus joins the project by creating the concept and the brand “Le Mas de l’essentiel”. She distills lavender on site and creates soaps, oils and many other products based on this plant. Continuing diversification, the couple organizes tours of the lavender grove and offers a rally game to introduce people to this culture.
“Diversification takes time and investment”
Today, the couple cultivates 21 hectares of vines and 10 hectares of lavender. Wine remains their main source of income, but all the activities created around this aromatic plant look promising. “It's been in operation for eight months, we believe in it.” However, David Girard would like to point out that this diversification did not happen overnight: “We ordered the plants two years in advance and we have been starting to produce for three years”. “We were not in an emergency, but in prevention. Today, there is an emergency because 750 hectares of vines are going to disappear. Diversification takes time and a big investment, it is expensive and the consequences are long-term.
Lavender is not the only option
David Girard is far from being the only one to have embarked on diversification. In Vire-sur-Lot, the Baldès family, known for their wine, began planting different crops 8 years ago. In addition to 75 hectares of vines, the Clos de Triguedina has one hectare of olive trees and more than 60 fruit trees such as apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees, quince trees and also truffle oaks. “We must not wait and see, we must always move forward,” explains Jean-Luc Baldès. “Nature doesn't give us gifts every year. We were hit by frost. For three or four years, we had poor harvests.” This diversification is designed to always accompany wine like olive oil. “We are lucky to be in the 7th generation of winegrowers, the experience must be of use to us,” concludes Jean-Luc Baldès.
