Domaine Deprad, a 23-hectare vineyard in La Cadière-d’Azur, is unique in its use of draft horses for vineyard work, blending traditional methods with modern wine production. Owned by Rémi Deprad and Marie Martinenq, the vineyard revived this ancient practice around 2017-2018, motivated by their passion for horses and a desire to address climate change impacts on their land. Horses offer gentler soil tamping than tractors, preserving the terroir’s microbial life crucial for quality wine, especially in the arid Bandol region. While production is smaller and more labor-intensive, this approach has garnered praise, intrigue, and success, including winning the 2024 Bandol Wine Festival and fostering wine tourism.
Their philosophy emphasizes quality over quantity, with a focus on local, sustainable practices rather than mass production or degrowth ideals. Domaine Deprad’s wines, such as the approachable “Le Glou Glou,” reflect the unique Bandol terroir and the vineyard’s confidential, rare, and qualitative identity. The vineyard is part of a growing movement in France where draft horses are increasingly used in viticulture to maintain soil health and ecosystem durability. A comprehensive 2025 study by the Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation highlights this trend, noting Domaine Deprad as the sole participant in the Var region and emphasizing the cultural and environmental benefits of equine traction in vineyards.
