Values, Commitments and R&D
Eco-responsible Viticulture
The Future of Viticulture: Between Tradition and Challenge
Environmental awareness in viticulture must meet the expectations of our consumers, the downstream actors of the wine industry, and respond to the demand for sustainable production. As a key player in the Loire Valley, Maison Ackerman has, for several years, been committed to a sustainable development approach.
Our winegrowers and partners are fully engaged in alternative and eco-responsible practices, ensuring that each vineyard plot is integrated harmoniously into its surrounding ecosystem. The planting of hedgerows along vineyard edges, delayed mowing, and butterfly counts are now part of our technical itineraries. These are just some examples of our commitment to preserving biodiversity in the Loire Valley.
Our vineyards are certified HVE (High Environmental Value).
On the oenological side, our R&D (Research & Development) unit supports and drives this continuous improvement in quality. For example, we have reduced sulfite levels across all our wines.
From a logistical perspective, the careful management of water resources and the systematic sorting of waste are further reflections of our commitment to fully embedding environmental responsibility in all our activities.
“We act, test, and validate with the awareness that today, production, innovation, and research must fully integrate environmental considerations.” – Pierre Charon, Oenologist
Eco-Grazing
Eco-grazing is defined as an alternative and/or complementary method to the mechanical maintenance of vineyard landscapes, and is therefore part of an agroecology approach. Since last May, several sheep have joined our vineyard plots. These naturally hardy Ouessant sheep are small in size, allowing them to move easily among the vines. Their purpose is to maintain and naturally fertilize the soils during the winter season.
Upholding Social Values
Maison Ackerman works daily with more than 290 collaborators, making it one of the largest employers in the department. Through our partners and suppliers, over 500 additional jobs are indirectly linked to the activities of our House.
For the maintenance of our green spaces, we rely on workers from sheltered workshops or institutions providing employment support. These initiatives create further indirect employment for workers and organizations rooted in the local territory.
Through a human resources policy that places employee well-being, continuous training, and quality social dialogue at the heart of its approach, Maison Ackerman strives to maintain a healthy and harmonious working environment. To ensure alignment between management’s commitments and the reality of daily work, a “social barometer” is conducted annually.
A Strong Local Presence
Maison Ackerman is part of a cooperative network built on a stable, regionally rooted shareholding. Our majority shareholder, the Terrena Group, has been committed to the cooperative spirit for over 130 years. The AOP system, combined with the Group’s deep attachment to the region, provides a solid guarantee for the future of both our employees and the winegrowers with whom we work. Moreover, all decisions shaping the future of our House are made locally.
This local anchoring gives Maison Ackerman every opportunity to maintain a strong connection to the territory in which it has been continuously established for over two centuries.
