Côtes

Côtes – French term for a hillside in a vineyard.
Hillsides have a number of advantages:
Because of the angle the sun is able to better penetrate the grape vines.
Because of that the grapes are better ripened. This is especially advantageous in cool areas.
Also, the feared night frost doesn’t remain, it sinks to the ground.
A disadvantage of a hillside is soil erosion.
Sometimes the upper layer of the soil must be reapplied.

If the hillside is very steep the use of mechanical farming equipment will get more difficult.
Cables are then used or even rails and winches are applied.
Labour will also become more expensive.