'Bon Sens Paysan'
‘Bon sens paysan’ in French literally translates to the ‘peasant’s good sense.’
Bon sens paysan implies an acquired knowledge that originates from hundreds (if not thousands) of years spent growing the same crops in a given environment. This agricultural wisdom has been transmitted, passed down generationally through grape growers over eons.
The phrase suggests a deep and intimate expertise of the land and one’s immediate surroundings. It implies impeccable logic of the environment in which you are working and living. This sense of knowing the land can’t be learned from a textbook – it is generational, innate, and based on experience.
Why is this important?
‘Bon sens paysan’ describes the way we approach farming and viticulture. Having a deep respect for the land and the vineyard is paramount. We utilize traditional, practical viticultural knowledge – which has been around for centuries, but little of which is now practiced. In an era when a typical California vineyard lives for 15-25 years before replanting, we need to rethink the decisions that are commonly considered the standard.
