A viticultural nursery is a specialist professional in the production and marketing of vine plants, destined to be planted in vineyards. They produce the grafted and rooted plants that form the basis of any new vineyard planting or replanting. Their role is fundamental in the industry: they select, multiply and certify the plant material that will determine the qualitative potential of a vineyard for 30 to 50 years.
The viticultural nursery masters complex techniques of grafting, vegetative multiplication and clonal selection. They work in close collaboration with viticultural research institutes, appellation syndicates and winegrowers to offer the best plant material adapted to each terroir, each appellation and each production objective.
Before the phylloxera crisis (1860-1890), winegrowers multiplied their own vines by direct cuttings: simply planting a vine shoot in the ground was enough to obtain a new vine. The near-total destruction of European vineyards by this aphid pest made grafting onto American rootstocks — resistant to phylloxera — necessary.
It was in this context of rebuilding the world's vineyards that the viticultural nursery profession professionalised and specialised. Specialist nurseries were born in all the major wine regions to meet the immense demand for grafted plants. In France, Pépinières Mercier, Viticole du Bordelais and Richter-7 became world references.
In the 20th century, clonal selection revolutionised the profession. By identifying and multiplying the best-performing individuals within a grape variety, nurseries and researchers considerably improved the consistency and quality of viticultural production. Today, disease resistance and climate change adaptation challenges are directing research towards new selections.
The production cycle of a grafted vine plant takes approximately 18 months. Everything begins with the selection and preparation of grafting wood (scions) and rootstocks. Grafting, carried out mechanically or by hand, is followed by a stratification period in a warm chamber to encourage callus formation. The plants are then placed in the nursery for a complete growing season.
Sanitary certification is an essential dimension of the profession. Plants must come from certified plant material free of viruses and serious diseases (fanleaf, leafroll). Nurseries work with certification bodies to guarantee the sanitary quality of their production.
The advisory relationship with winegrowers is at the heart of commercial activity. The nursery advises clients on the choice of grape varieties, clones and rootstocks adapted to their soil and qualitative objectives. This personalised agronomic advice is an essential added value that builds customer loyalty.
According to data from the Fédération Française de la Pépinière Viticole (FFPV):
Approximately 300 million vine plants produced in France each year — FFPV
France is the world's leading exporter of vine plants — FFPV, 2022
Over 200 active viticultural nurseries in France — FFPV
Approximately 50,000 hectares replanted or newly planted in France each year — FranceAgriMer
Over 300 grape varieties and hundreds of clones available in the French catalogue — ENTAV-INRAE
Certified grafted and rooted plants — standard production, mandatory sanitary certification, market base
Clonal selection — multiplication of clones selected for their agronomic and oenological qualities
Adapted rootstocks — selection based on soil type, active limestone, desired vigour
PIWI resistant varieties — new varieties resistant to downy and powdery mildew, major challenge for the future
Certified organic plants — production without chemical pesticides, fast-growing market
Ancient and rare varieties — conservation and multiplication of heritage varieties threatened with extinction
Potted / block plants — planting possible outside traditional windows, easier establishment
Massal selection — cuttings from old individuals in a vineyard, preserved genetic diversity
Viticultural nurseries are on the front line facing climate change challenges. Demand for grape varieties more resistant to heat and drought, for less vigorous rootstocks and for later-ripening varieties is considerably directing their selection work. Finding new genetic solutions adapted to tomorrow's vineyards is their main strategic challenge.
The development of PIWI varieties (Pilzwiderstandsfähig, fungal-resistant) is a revolution in progress. These new varieties, resulting from crosses between Vitis vinifera and resistant species, make it possible to drastically reduce phytosanitary treatments. Still marginal today, they could represent a growing share of the world's vineyards in coming decades.
Finally, the preservation of viticultural biodiversity is a mission that more and more nurseries are taking on. The conservation and multiplication of old, local and rare grape varieties, often abandoned in favour of more productive varieties, is an act of safeguarding the genetic heritage of the vine that some nurseries make their identity.
Pepinieres Mercier — Pezenas, Herault, France
Viticole France — Montagne, Gironde, France
Richter 7 — Montpellier, Herault, France
Pepinieres Guilbaud — Mouzillon, Loire-Atlantique, France
Couderc Vigne — Aubenas, Ardeche, France
Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo — Rauscedo, Friuli, Italy
Vilavinitec — Vilafranca del Penedes, Spain
Rebschulen Pfaff — Meckenheim, Rhineland, Germany
ENTAV-INRAE Transfert — Vassal-Montpellier, France
Viveros Provedo — Logrono, Rioja, Spain
Viveros Grinon — Chinchon, Castile, Spain
Rebschule Walg — Jenins, Grisons, Switzerland
Pepiniere Kracher — Illmitz, Burgenland, Austria
Sunridge Nurseries — Bakersfield, California, USA
Nova Vine — Santa Rosa, California, USA
Greenworld Nursery — Mildura, Victoria, Australia
TerraVitis — Barossa Valley, Australia
Rootstock Nursery — Marlborough, New Zealand
Wineland Nursery — Stellenbosch, South Africa
Vitis Vinifera Nursery — Mendoza, Argentina
Pepinieres Guillot — Romanèche-Thorins, Beaujolais, France
Pepinieres de la Vigne — Beaune, Burgundy, France
Pepiniera Viticola Toader — Iași, Romania
Pepinieres Boudes — Boudes, Puy-de-Dome, France
Pepinieres Regnard — Prehy, Chablis, France
Pepinieres Viticoles de Bordeaux — Bordeaux, France
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