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Penergetic Canada
Better wine. Improved resistance to pests and disease. Reduced use of chemical inputs. You’d think with all those benefits, Penergetic would be a household name in the wine making industry in Canada. But in fact, use of this innovative bio-technology is not yet well known in vineyards here. Derek Pratt, the BC-based importer and Canadian distributor, would like to change that.
"We love wine, we love wine touring, and this is a fantastic product for winemakers," says Pratt. "So right now we are really trying to get the word out about Penergetic for that industry."
Oddly enough, while not used in Canadian wine production, Penergetic is practically a household word among European wine producers. In Austria many wine bottles carry a small Penergetic label.
"In Europe Penergetic has a reputation and a significance, suggesting reduced chemical inputs and more sustainable growing practices," Pratt explains.
So, what is Penergetic? Essentially, a two-part system:
Penergetic k is applied to the soil at the beginning and end of the vegetative stage of growth. It stimulates microbial activity, unlocks nutrients and improves soil fertility. Penergetic p is applied to the plant during the vegetative cycle to promote root development and mycorrhizal activity, which enables vines to better access nutrients from the soil.
Penergetic was developed in Switzerland 20 years ago, and is used in 35 countries, including crop production and market gardens in Canada.
The most extensive research on the use of Penergetic with grape culture has taken place in Europe under the direction of agronomist Christof Weber. Trials there have shown have shown the Penergetic Method can improve soil health, lead to stronger, more vibrant, less stressed vines and permit an increase in both grape quality and quantity. Penergetic-treated vines need much less fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides, and yet are still more resistant to pests, drought and heat stress.
Austrian winemaker Christian Grassl, started using Penergetic in 2005. He reduced his use of pesticide by 65 per cent right away. By 2012 he reduced pesticide use by 95 per cent, and fungicide use by 75 per cent.
"We know Penergetic can be a real boon to the wine industry, so we are very keen to introduce it to that market," says Pratt. "Aside from the benefit of healthier plants and more sustainable practices, it just makes for better wine. We’ve found in trials it actually elevates the Brix reading (for sugar content), so grapes are sweeter, they ripen better, and they survive better."
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