The Pierre Galet experimental vineyard

In 1998, Montpellier SupAgro envisaged the creation of a "vineyard of the future" on the Montpellier campus as the vineyards on the La Gaillarde site were becoming old.  It was essential to maintain a collection of vines on site, both for the needs of the viticulture training programs and the traditional image of the school. Alain Carbonneau, Professor of Viticulture at Montpellier SupAgro since 1993, described the problem to the Director of the School, Mr. Paul Raynaud, as follows: "If we do not completely renovate the old collection, including the soil, we will have no plot on which a new collection of vines could be planted under correct conditions". Paul Raynaud embraced the project and, with the support of the services of the Conseil Général de l'Hérault, commissioned a total renewal between 1999 and 2000.

In less than one month, the following was achieved over 1 hectare: excavation of old soil to a depth of 2 m, evacuation of marl earth to be used for the "La Lyre" roundabout, installation of an insulating tarpaulin on the bottom held by a bed of pebbles with a geotextile film above to hinder rooting, filling to an average height of 1.5 m with the new substrate made up of alternating layers of coarse river sand and small crushed quarry stones, chosen to deter the development of Xiphinema index nematodes, vectors of the degenerative grapevine fanleaf virus. The first artificial vineyard of the world, one renewable on the spot, was thus established! All of these operations and the general plan of the vineyard were carried out under the supervision of Alain Carbonneau with daily technical assistance from Gérard Bruno (INRA).

The plant material in the collection was chosen by Jean-Michel Boursiquot, Ampelography Professor at Montpellier SupAgro, and produced by ENTAV. The plants were grafted onto Selection Oppenheim No. 4 (SO4) to homogenize their development and ensure tolerance of other soil pests. The planting took place in February 2000. Trelisses were set up a few months later; for most of the grape varieties, trellis vine training and Cordon de Royat pruning techniques were used. Due to the nature of the substrate, a regular supply of water and mineral elements is required: an automated system of fertilizing irrigation was set up and is regularly improved. Integrated protection requires regular and meticulous monitoring of pest and parasite risks, with the dual objectives of improving efficiency over several hundred varieties and respecting the environment.

The plot includes a collection of about 180 cultivated varieties (large sample of wine and table grapes), main rootstocks and Vitaceous species, 12 vine training or management systems for Syrah (Gobelet, 3 different Trellis, Free cordon, Vertical cordon, Lys, Minimal pruning, Single curtain, Double curtain, Tendone, Lyre), and a soil-less research area, in the centre.

New vineyard management techniques are implemented to respect the environment with the practice of mechanical weeding, the balanced management of inputs (water, N) and the absence (or very limited use) of pesticides. Substantial work has been carried out on the traceability of crop practices, in particular with regard to phyto-sanitary treatments.