How toxic is copper contamination of vineyard soils to the ecosystem? That is the thorny question this paper seeks to answer. Based on studies describing Cu toxicity in plants, it points out that Cu contamination of vineyard soils is generally moderate and that demonstrations of Cu ecotoxicity at plot level are rare. It stresses that Cu ecotoxicity depends above all on its bioavailability in the soil and explains why it also appears in calcareous soils. Lastly, it identifies priorities for further research in this field.