Viticulture & Oenology

The Viticulture & Oenology group combines expertise in basic and applied research, advisory services, vineyard management and winemaking. Through close collaboration between these areas, it develops ideas and evaluates solutions guided by the principles of organic agriculture, with the aim of implementing them in viticulture through extension, training, publications, and professional exchanges.

Through national and international partnerships, the group addresses major viticulture challenges, including adaptation to climate change, plant protection, improving soil health, promoting biodiversity, developing disease-resistant grape varieties, and establishing sustainable production systems.

The final goal is to strengthen the resilience, sustainability and economic viability of viticultural systems and the wine sector in Switzerland, supporting grape-wine production that aligns with the expectations of winegrowers and consumers while also meeting social and environmental goals.

The Viticulture & Oenology group is organised into three complementary teams:

• On-Station team: basic experimental and systems-oriented research under both controlled and production conditions, from the laboratory to the vineyard
• On-Farm team: applied research, advisory services and knowledge transfer in close collaboration with winegrowers and winemakers
• Production team: management of the FiBL estate and experimental vineyards, as well as winemaking from the experimental grapes using microvinification, thereby bridging production and research

Contact

• Michael Riemann (Leader of the Team On-Station)
• David Marchand (Leader of the Team On-Farm)
• Andreas Tuchschmid (Leader of the Team Production)