Vines, Sheep, and Cool Ideas

Ouessant sheep at the Cave du Rhodan winery

At the Cave du Rhodan winery, Ouessant sheep play an important role in sustainable vineyard management. Europe’s smallest breed of sheep is ideally suited for grazing among the vines and naturally supports viticulture.

From controlling vegetation growth in the fall and winter to targeted foliage management in the summer—our sheep contribute to soil fertility, biodiversity, and the quality of the grapes. Discover how tradition and sustainability come together harmoniously at our winery, and learn much more about the sheep, their roles, and the products they provide.

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Ouessant sheep

Breed Description

The Ouessant sheep, also known as the Breton dwarf sheep, is the smallest sheep breed in Europe. Rams should measure less than 50 cm, and ewes (female sheep) less than 47 cm. Ouessant sheep are relatively long-legged. The narrow head is well-proportioned and only slightly ram-like in rams. Males have powerful, broad horns with a single curve, similar to those of a mouflon. Females are hornless. The ears are small, short, and slightly erect. The topline is straight without a prominent withers, and the pelvis is large. The woolly tail ends just above the hock.

Ouessant sheep have a semi-closed, mixed-wool fleece with a very fine undercoat. In rams, the formation of a “necktie”—resulting from an increased presence of guard hairs in the lower neck, nape, and front thighs—is desirable. The majority of Ouessant sheep are black, but there are also gray, white, brown, and roan-colored animals. The coat color should be a uniform solid color throughout the year. The “tie” may be darker, provided it is the same color.
Source: Ouessant Sheep Switzerland

Grape Harvest

Our Ouessant sheep make a valuable contribution to the maintenance of our vineyards. Thanks to their small size, they are ideally suited for grazing among the vines.


Winter Grazing

From October (after the grape harvest) through mid-March (when the vines begin to bud), our sheep keep the vegetation in the vineyards short and eat the remaining grass from the fall. During this time, the sheep remain in the vineyards at all times. If there isn’t enough forage, we supplement their diet with hay right there in the vineyard.

Summer Leaf Maintenance

During the summer months, we use our sheep specifically for defoliation. By removing the leaves in the grape zone, they improve airflow and sunlight exposure to the grapes, which enhances the quality and health of the grapes. This natural approach reduces the need for manual intervention and promotes a balanced microclimate in the vineyard.

Benefits of Sheep Grazing in Viticulture

  • Natural soil management: Sheep naturally keep weeds in check.
  • Promotion of biodiversity: Grazing creates diverse habitats for plants and animals, which supports the ecological balance.
  • Sustainability: The use of sheep reduces the need for mechanical tillage, which lowers the carbon footprint.

Our Ouessant sheep are therefore not only an integral part of our vineyard management, but also contribute significantly to the quality of our wines and to the promotion of sustainable agriculture.

Landscape Conservation

Landscape conservation is of great importance for the preservation of our natural environment. Grazing by sheep used to be widespread, but has declined sharply in recent decades. Scientific studies show that grazing on grasslands is vital for the conservation of flora and fauna. A major advantage of using Ouessant sheep for slope management is the breed’s light weight. This keeps the creation of unwanted trails to a minimum.

The Ouessant sheep is suitable for almost all types of grassy areas. For example, railway embankments, steep slopes (barren or fertile), nature reserves, grassy areas, green belts, etc.; in addition, shrubs and hedges are effectively kept in check.

In addition to vineyards, our sheep graze on nature conservation areas in collaboration with the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park and keep other ecologically valuable areas open. This provides an ideal complement to vineyard grazing. So when the animals aren’t working in the vineyards, they have another meaningful task.

We offer customized solutions for managing your green spaces. There are various models for managing these areas, which we tailor specifically to your land. We handle the fencing and ensure regular inspection rounds. You incur no costs whatsoever. We offer our grazing service in the wider region around Salgesch. Additionally, the area should be at least 1,000 m².

Please feel free to contact us to schedule a site visit and discuss the grazing plan.

Animal Sales

We regularly offer Ouessant sheep (ewes, rams, and lambs) from our breeding program for sale—both for breeding and as pets.

We’d be happy to provide you with personalized advice and a customized offer. We’re also available to answer any questions you may have about caring for these animals. Please contact us for more information and a quote.

History

Sheep on the vineyard

For more than ten years now, sheep have been grazing in the vineyards at the Cave du Rhodan winery, mainly after the harvest until budbreak in the spring. We started with four sheep back then and have expanded the flock each year while gaining experience. The sheep graze on the cover crops and simultaneously fertilize the vines. At times, the sheep are also used in the vineyards during the summer to selectively remove some leaves and keep the grass short. More than ten years ago, we deliberately chose the Ouessant breed. The main reason was their small size. This is important so that the animals can fit under the vines and irrigation hoses and do not graze the vine leaves too high up.

In addition, this breed is very hardy and undemanding, and well-adapted to the sometimes sparse forage found in the vineyards. At Cave du Rhodan, there are about 30 Ouessant sheep throughout the year. There are also a few Skudden sheep. The sheep spend the summer at slightly higher elevations in the mountains to escape the heat. In winter, the animals are supplemented with hay in the vineyard. Good management and close observation are crucial for successful vineyard grazing. Ouessant sheep generally do not graze on the vines between harvest and budbreak; however, this does not apply to every single animal. For this reason, this aspect is also incorporated into the farm’s breeding program.

Divico Plot

Divico Vineyard

During a school trip to Italy, Luc Mounir, then a 13-year-old student, asked Olivier Constantin, the entrepreneur and driver of the tour bus, what he planned to do with the large plot of land right on the linguistic border between Upper and Lower Valais. After all, he was merely using it to store excavated material—specifically sand from the nearby Raspille stream—which was actually a shame for such a plot of land.

Luc told him he was looking for a place for his sheep and that he had a really cool idea.

Our colleague Olivier Constantin found it absolutely fascinating that such a young person had come to him with concrete ideas. After consulting with his brothers Gerhard and Roger, they sealed the deal with a handshake. Our winery was able to purchase the plot.

An exciting story unfolded on that plot. Unfortunately, Olivier Constantin was unable to witness the result he had been so eagerly anticipating, as he passed away far too soon in 2015.

Learn more about preparing the plot

The New Divico Products

Fortunella Rosécco Sparkling Wine / VdP Suisse

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Contact Us for Questions and Further Assistance

Do you have any questions or suggestions regarding Ouessant sheep?

Then don’t hesitate to contact us today. Luc Mounir will be happy to provide you with more information about his sheep, how they’re raised, and the various products made from the sheep.

Luc Mounir | Flantheystrasse 1 | 3970 Salgesch

luc.mounir@rhodan.ch

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