For the Love of Bees

Bees and wine? What could possibly be the relation? Often associated together, there are many great reasons for producers to be interested in bees!
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A challenge in modern agriculture is monoculture farming, where produce is grown at such a scale with large areas of land being solely focused on growth of one single crop. This may be practical for improved efficiency in planting and harvesting for higher volume production, however, this has not always been the way of the land. For generations land has been used for growing a multitude of different crops, and it is crop diversity that is key in organic farming, as it is so beneficial for the soil fertility and nutrients to have diversity, which in turn means less need for fertilisers, thus preventing soil erosion and reducing pollution run-off. How does this work in vineyards? Growers will plant cover crops in between rows of vines and in areas surrounding the vineyard to improve biodiversity. This benefits the soil but also encourages other wildlife, including natural predators of vine pests; many have taken this further by creating habitats such as birdhouses and bat shelters to further encourage these natural predators, and so the cycle of benefits continue.
Where do bees fit in?
As part of encouraging this biodiversity, many producers love to incorporate beekeeping into their work. Chateau des Moines have installed three beehives in their vineyard in Spring 2024 and now produce their own honey. But why would this be beneficial? If you ever want a simple yet entertaining display of just how important bees are, you should watch Bee Movie with the hilarious voice actor, Jerry Seinfeld. A fun film with classic Seinfeld humour, but a great reminder of how integral bees are to our ecosystem. And many farmers and grape growers love to keep bees for their crucial and effective pollination. Although you might expect the bees to pollinate the grapevine flowers, this is not the case because grapevines are actually self-pollinating. However, pollination is still very beneficial for grape growing, as it benefits the surrounding cover crops, which as previously mentioned benefit the soil health and structure for longevity. We often only think about the honeybee when speaking about bees, but the majority of bee species in the UK and across Europe are actually solitary bees, and bumblebees. Bumblebees are particularly important pollinators as the different species have varying tongue lengths for different flower types, and they also venture out in cooler seasons, thanks to their 'fluffy coats'!
More than meets the eye
In this way bees are a key indicator of a healthy ecosystem and their presence is vital to encouraging healthy growth of plants, soil fertility and disease control. There is also research being conducted to see how the honeybees presence and impact on the soil microbiome actually impacts the flavour of the wine. Cantina Orsogna, a fantastic organic and biodynamic wine producer, are passionate about their honeybees, beyond their role as pollinators they appreciate their contribution to fermentation. Using 'bee bread', they can take unique yeasts for fermentation of their Vola Volé wines. Yeast is such a key influence in wine character, often unknown to the customer, if a producer chooses to use the natural yeast this can reflect the unique character of the area. Read more about Cantina Orsogna.
Honey and wine
Honeybees are also much loved because, as their names suggests, they produce the sweet honey that plays such a big role in our lives. Known predominantly for the deliciously oozing liquid gold, it has an array of superpowers such as anti-inflammatory benefits, and wound healing to name a few. Honey can take on a variety of flavours and characteristics depending on the surrounding flowers and trees that the bees collect the nectar from. In a very similar way that wines are believed to take on aromas or flavours of surrounding plants such as southern French wines taking on Garrigue notes (a combination of lavender, rosemary, juniper, sage and thyme) or grapes grown near eucalyptus trees, particularly South Australia, take on the same eucalyptus aroma which is a minty or spicy note. If it hasn’t been done already, I am sure a honey and wine tasting should be in the works – whether to pair together or to compete for the best accompaniment with cheese!
Bees and harmony
There is a wonderful harmony in the mutually beneficial nature of the relationship between bees and wine, particularly associated with organic viticulture and winemaking, it is fascinating to see the innovation and interest of producers to work with the wonders that nature has to offer to benefit from, but also to contribute to their conservation and environmental sustainability.
We are buzzing to announce…
We are now Business Plus Members of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a science-led, UK based charity established in 2006 by Professor Dave Goulson. It was established due to serious concerns in the major declines in bumblebee numbers, including the national extinction of two species, and is the only UK charity dedicated to conserving bumblebees, through habitat restoration, research, and public education.
We are proud to bee able to support the vital work of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, to learn more about the trust and to see how you can help aid bumblebees in your garden, please visit bumblebeeconservation.org
By Molly Newport