Our policy in the vineyard is one based strongly upon tradition. We do not almost use any chemical fertilisers or herbicides, and we place a strict limitation on the use of pesticides and treatments for disease, thus maintaining an important balance between the respect of the vine and the environment.
The yields are limited (on average to between 40 and 45 hectolitres/hectare).

The soil is worked using a hydraulic plough between each vine foot and then the base of each foot is finished by hand.

The pruning of the vines is done using the cordon de Royat system, thus limiting the number of bunches on each vine. The prunings are immediately burnt in order to avoid the incubation of any diseases in the wood.

The majority of the vineyard is trellised allowing for better photosynthesis and aeration of the bunches of grapes.
In the spring we remove a percentage of the buds from the vines in order to reduce the amount of fruit produced. This yield is further limited by a green harvest in July where a portion of the bunches of grapes on each vine are sacrificed to concentrate the sugar content in those that remain.
The hervesting is done by hand : the grapes are carefully selected and to avoid any damage to the berries transported to the winery in 25 kg cartons, where they are destemmed and crushed.

During more difficult harvests the grapes are also sorted on tables, a second time, upon arrival at the winery.

A high quality vintage is qualified by the grapes being healthy and fully mature. Here at Domaine de la Citadelle the harvest usually begins around the end of August and lasts until the end of October thus allowing us to pick each variety at optimum maturity.