Working the soil with horse-drawn tools

This section of Clos de l'Arlot has slopes of between 30 and 50 degrees, making it absolutely impossible to bring in modern machinery. All year round we work to keep the grass at bay, using a cable winch at the top of the hill to pull the plough. But once a year, before the vines begin their growth cycle in the spring, we use good old-fashioned animal power to soften up the soils which have become compacted over the winter. This allows us to flatten down some of the earth which the cable winch system turns up, and above all to thoroughly loosen and soften the soil, making our work easier for the rest of the season.