Vinescapes viticulturist Cameron Roucher, presents the top 5 tips for how you can begin the transition to regenerative viticulture.
As reported in Fruit & Vine, July/August 2025.
1. Soil health assessment
The first step is to understand the current state of your soil. You want to know how much your soil is retaining moisture, how much life is in the soil and if the soil is rich in nutrients. This will determine what you do next. I suggest digging soil pits in various locations across the site. Initially sending the soil off for analysis will provide a benchmark
for ongoing analysis. Analysing soil health can also be done by developing key metrics done by hand and sight – counting earthworms,
measuring root depth, conducting slake tests by submerging soil in water and assessing the rhizosphere in soil. These tests will give you the
data to measure the impact of the changes you make in the vineyard. Soil health assessments will become an invaluable tool for the team going forward.
2. Ground cover
Reducing soil exposure to the elements is an effective way to build soil health. Simple grass coverage can maintain structure, and planting
cover crops can deliver nutritional benefits as well as prevent soil erosion. For example, legumes support nitrogen levels, flowering
plants attract companion insects, and tuber roots like radish plants, can loosen up soil and improve drainage. Your soil health assessment
will reveal what cover crops will work best for your site.
Ground covers and a regime of mulching under vine align with a no-till approach to viticulture. With full soil coverage of the vineyard we see better results in moisture management, vine nutrition as well as carbon sequestration.
3. Organic nutrition
There are various forms of organic nutrition. One of the most vital and effective forms is compost. The end goal of regenerative viticulture is toreduce and eventually remove all chemical or necessary mechanical interventions. Spreading good quality compost under vine delivers organic nutrients and live populations of protozoa, nematodes and other diverse organisms to the vineyard. Studies have shown organic additions can reduce the risk of pathogens and improve vine resistance. Mulch and cover crops similarly bring protective qualities and contribute to resilient natural processes to improve vineyard performance.
4. Ecosystem design
Nature can prove more resilient than industrial processes have led us to believe. Advances in agroforestry have revealed how diversifying agriculture can improve both the quality of food produced and the local environment. Assessing the natural flora and fauna and companion farming opportunities available to suit your site can deliver significant benefits. This option can involve some financial outlay initially but can pay off by diversifying your income stream. At Vinescapes, we have worked with clients to integrate woodlands, fruit orchards, animal grazing, indigenous plants and wildlife into the design and scale of vineyards. While monocultures are more susceptible to pests and disease, viticulture which works with the local ecosystem, can be more dynamic and productive.
5. Animal integration
The use of livestock or poultry in vineyards can reduce the time and cost of doing tasks like spreading fertiliser or managing pests. Sheep in
the vineyard at specific times of the year can bring valuable nutrients and microbes, minimise grass or cover crop growth and aerate the soil. Ducks, geese, or guinea fowl similarly bring organic matter but also eat potential pests. It is important to use the right animals to suit the vineyard and skills of the team to manage them correctly. It is also possible to contract grazing animals, without the responsibility
of ongoing husbandry. This is one practice which might come later in your regenerative journey, but it is one which can bring substantial benefits to the soil, vines and site each season.
If you’d like to find out more about how to begin the transition in your vineyard, get in touch.
Or you might wish to learn more about regenerative soil health training in August 2026.