Healthy Vines, Pure Wines

Healthy Vines, Pure Wines

Methods in Organic, Biodynamic®,
Natural, and Sustainable Viticulture

Pamela Lanier and Jessica N. Hughes

Healthy Vines, Pure Wines:
Methods in Organic, Biodynamic®, Natural, and Sustainable Viticulture

Copyright © Pamela Lanier, 2021.

Cover design by Inga Vesik

Interior design by Exeter Premedia Services Private Ltd., Chennai, India

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other
except for brief quotations, not to exceed 400 words, without the prior
permission of the publisher.

First published in 2021 by

Business Expert Press, LLC
222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017
www.businessexpertpress.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-63742-030-0 (paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-1-63742-031-7 (e-book)

Business Expert Press Tourism and Hospitality Management Collection

Collection ISSN: 2375-9623 (print)

Collection ISSN: 2375-9631 (electronic)

First edition: 2021

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Amigo Bob Cantisano, who inspired so many through his ­commitment
to organic farming and viticulture. This publication would not be what it
is without his knowledge. We are so thankful we had the o­ pportunity to
meet you, Amigo.

I dedicate this book to the Sonoma Sustainable Tourism O

­ bservatory,
and to Luna and all in her generation, in the hopes that this
­magnificent Creation they will inherit will sustain and delight her
and generations to come.
—Pamela Lanier

I dedicate this book to my wonderful, supportive family, my mother

­Deborah, brother Jason, sister Jeanine, sweet old kitties, Kaila and
Larka, and to my newest family member, the lively calico Meekla.

I also have to thank my co-author, Pamela, for bringing me onto this

project, and for all I have been able to learn in writing this book.
Thank you Pamela!
—Jessica Hughes
 Description
Healthy Vines, Pure Wines serves as a guide, which derives its
information from real-world sources to share green practices in
­
sustainable viticulture in a practical way. Including a how-to on treating
vineyard issues organically, a look at how climate change is affecting
viticulture, and a special focus on women in the field, this handbook
maintains a forward focus.
Also included are 16 case studies on successful organic, b­ iodynamic,
and sustainable wineries from the San Francisco North Bay Region,
focusing on how what each has done can be replicated.

Keywords
green wine; organic viticulture; biodynamic®; sustainable farming;
natural wine; Napa county; Sonoma county; wine country
 Contents
Acknowledgments�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������xi
Foreword by Jean-Charles Boisset����������������������������������������������������������xiii
Introduction����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� xv

Chapter 1 Standards and Certifications���������������������������������������������1

Chapter 2 Profiles in Sustainable Viticulture: “Amigo Bob”
Cantisano�����������������������������������������������������������������������11
Chapter 3 Farming Techniques and Practices����������������������������������23
Chapter 4 Organically Treating Common Vineyard Issues��������������29
Chapter 5 Climate Change Changes Wine��������������������������������������37
Chapter 6 Women, Regenerative Agriculture, and
Natural Wine�����������������������������������������������������������������45
Chapter 7 Organic, Biodynamic®, and Sustainable Wineries and
Vineyards of California’s North Bay Wine Country��������69
Chapter 8 Boisset Collection: Raymond Vineyards and
Deloach Vineyards��������������������������������������������������������115
Chapter 9 An Interview With Sam and Phil Coturri;
Organic Leaders�����������������������������������������������������������131
Chapter 10 Making Wine at Home�������������������������������������������������133
Chapter 11 Petaluma Gap AVA: Establishing a New American
Viticultural Area�����������������������������������������������������������139

Glossary & Terms��������������������������������������������������������������������������������147

Further Exploration and Learning�������������������������������������������������������149
Works Cited���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������151
About the Authors�������������������������������������������������������������������������������155
About the Contributors�����������������������������������������������������������������������157
Index�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������161
 Acknowledgments
Writing this book has been a roller coaster amid fires, floods, power out-
ages, and the entirety of 2020, but we persisted and have made it to the
finish line. To say we got here without help would be selfish, foolish, and
factually incorrect. We are so incredibly thankful for the many vineyard-
ists, winemakers, and passionate owners who put their hearts and souls
into their products and properties. They took time to meet with us, speak
with us, and share what they do and why they love doing it. Thank you
so much!
To those who have helped us in various capacities: Inga Vesik who
served as our cover artist, Jenifer Bliss, who helped us stay in contact with
her partner and collaborator, Amigo Bob Cantisano, and Amigo himself,
who was perhaps the single greatest resource in the creation of this book.
Thank you to Joe Papendick and Sophie Drucker, who contributed a full
timeline of a year in a Biodynamic® vineyard, and Rickey Trombetta, who
helped us to understand the marketing side of this field.
We also thank our editors whom we would have been lost without:
Laurence Blanchette Hamel, Esther Woll, Lora Templeton, and Rochelle
Craig. Thank you too, to the team at Business Expert Press, Scott I­ senberg,
Betsy Stringam, Charlene Kronstedt, and Sheri Dean. We are so grateful
for all you have done. Thank you!
—Pamela & Jessica
 Foreword by
Jean-Charles Boisset
A few words I would use to describe Jean-Charles Boisset would be
passion first—about life and about wine. A second word would be
idealism. And a third would be hard worker… with a light heart.
—Pamela

I had the great fortune starting from birth to experience first-hand the full
grape-to-wine cycle at my grandparents farm in Burgundy. This intimate
connection and my grandparents’ careful teaching was a ­methodology of
learning through ancestral demonstration.
When I visited California I saw that people were willing to try new
approaches to farming and winemaking, and really, that’s what brought
me to transplant my roots to Northern California. I was inspired to create
quality-driven wines, with a lot of expression, affected by every part of
the terroir. By finding that rhythm of nature—a principle of Biodynamic®
farming—I was guided to create wines that demonstrate the difference in
the wines produced.
Also, the opportunity to create wines from better soil—and the New
World vineyards do have newer, better soil. People in the region picked
up on these new ideas of having the “whole vineyard” dynamic and
understood that the long term needs to be prioritized because great fruit
makes great wine.
As a vintner and human being I grieve for Mother Nature. I say
“thank you” to the bees. Most of all we need a steady path to respect the
environment. Perhaps Organic should be the rule. As Voltaire said, “we
must cultivate our garden”.
xiv Foreword by Jean-Charles Boisset

Our bodies were created to eat seasonally, consume the foods where
we live, and drink our local wines. That makes our system—our bodies—
stronger, which in turn makes the whole world better.
My motto is taste it, feel it, sense it, and enjoy.
To your health, Sante!
Jean-Charles Boisset
Sonoma, January 2021
 Introduction
The inspiration for this book came when we were establishing the
Sonoma Sustainable Tourism Observatory for the International Network
of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), an affiliate of the United
Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
As we looked at the economic and conservation drivers in the Sonoma
and Napa regions, it became apparent that the two dominant industries
are wine and tourism. The number of jobs, the amount of money they
bring into the counties, and the amount of land devoted to these indus-
tries, are significant. Wine and tourism are closely aligned, with wine
tasting and other related activities enticing visitors to come from near
and far. Knowing that Napa and Sonoma are vying to be the nation’s
first 100  ­percent sustainable winegrowing region only added fuel to
our energy for this book—a natural follow up from our last book on
­sustainable travel.
What we set out to do with this book was to get boots-on-the-ground
information from real, practicing winemakers and organic leaders. At
the first winery we visited, Martorana Family Winery in the Dry Creek
­Valley, we were given the name and contact information for “Amigo Bob”
­Cantisano, the consultant responsible for guiding Martorana through
their conversion to organic farming. Over the next few months, we con-
ducted a series of interviews with Amigo, who lives in the Sierra Nevada
foothills near Grass Valley. From him, we received thorough and tested
methods in sustainable viticulture, which became our chapters entitled
“Farming Techniques and Practices” and “Organically Treating Common
Vineyard Issues”. He gave us a detailed history of his involvement in
farming, in establishing California’s strong organic tradition, and some of
his specific experiences over his long career.
We interviewed Martorana in late August of 2017, and just over a
month later, on October 8th, fire broke out in both Sonoma and Napa.
Homes and wineries burned, evacuations were ordered, schools closed,
and smoke filled the skies for weeks. 43 lives were lost. For all of us in
the San Francisco North Bay, this conflagration snatched our attention
xvi Introduction

and disrupted our lives for months. That year, we thought the fire was
a one-off disaster, like an earthquake. A year later, on N­ ovember 8th,
2018, Northern California saw yet another fire, which this time razed the
city of Paradise, CA to the ground, tragically taking with it eighty-five
lives. Smoke filled the skies once more and we knew then that this may
very well be the new normal. 2019 and 2020 saw immense fires as well,
confirming that new normal. Climate change is real, and this is what it
looks like.
We knew we needed a perspective on how climate change is affecting
viticulture, and how winegrape growers can adapt to this warmer, cli-
mate. A whole book could be devoted to this subject, but we wanted to
keep our focus on organic and sustainable viticulture and how to practice
it. Some of our included properties, such as Matthiasson and Enterprise
Vineyards, are already taking measures for the changing climate in their
varietal choices, and Deerfield Ranch Winery was within the burn zone
and shared their experience with us during the interview with proprietor
PJ Rex.
The second half of the book is a series of case studies of various
wineries  and vineyards, each of whom practice sustainable, natural,
­
organic, or Biodynamic® viticulture beginning with a series of outstand-
ing women-led, natural wine producers. Examples from the SF North
Bay follow, each of which is based on an in-person visit and interview
conducted with the owner, winemaker, or vineyardist.
Following the case studies is a guide on how to make wine as a home
winemaker and a terroir-focused look at one of Sonoma County’s newer
viticulture areas, the Petaluma Gap and the process for that AVA to be
recognized. For definitions of terms used throughout the text, see the
glossary after Petaluma Gap AVA.
This book is a concise and well-researched overview of the types of
sustainable wines and how to nurture healthy vines, particularly in the
Sonoma and Napa regions today. It includes the accounts of more than
a dozen diverse voices and fascinating individuals—all of whom share
a common love for the land, the grape, and the joy of bringing vibrant
wines to life!
We hope you enjoy reading the case studies as much as we enjoyed
preparing them.
 CHAPTER 1

Standards and Certifications

For a bottle of wine to carry a sustainable label, all components of the
process must meet the certification requirements, meaning there’s a
­difference between organic wine and wine made from organic grapes.

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)

and United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Organic:
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) is a USDA-accredited
organic certifying agency and trade association, located in Santa Cruz,
California. Formed in 1973, CCOF was the first organic certification
entity in the United States,1 though it operated only in California until
the USDA created its own organic certification.
Due to this decentralized approach, there was a lack of clarity
about what organic meant from state to state. A movement grew to
develop a national organic standard to help facilitate interstate mar-
keting. In  response, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production
Act (OFPA) in 1990 to develop a national standard for organic food
and fiber production. OFPA mandated that USDA develop and write
regulations to explain the law to producers, handlers, and certifiers.
After years of work, final rules were written and implemented in
fall 2002.2

1
 Biodynamic Wines & Vines. n.d. “Biodynamic Wines & Vines Exclusive,
Insider Info on the Wines + Wineries.” Biodynamic Wines & Vines | bd.wine,
https://bd.wine/certification
2
  Sustainable Agriculture Network. January 2007. “History of Organic ­Farming
in the United States.” SARE, https://sare.org/publications/transitioning-to-
organic-production/history-of-organic-farming-in-the-united-states/
2 Healthy Vines, Pure Wines

For wine to be sold as organic, both the growing of the grapes and their
conversion to wine must be certified. This includes making sure grapes
are grown without synthetic fertilizers and in a manner that protects the
environment and preserves the soil. Other agricultural ingredients that go
into the wine, such as yeast, also have to be certified organic. Any nonag-
ricultural ingredients must be specifically allowed on the National List of
Allowed and Prohibited, and can’t exceed 5 percent of the total ­product.
And while wine naturally produces some sulfur dioxide (­sulfites), they
can’t be added to organic wine. Sulfites are commonly added to wines to
stop the fermentation process, preserve the flavor profile, and keep the
wine from oxygenating.
Wines that are sold as “made with organic grapes” have different
requirements than organic wine. When a wine is labeled as being made
with organic grapes, 100 percent of those grapes used must be certified
organic. Yeast and any other agricultural ingredients aren’t required to
be organic, but have to be produced without excluded methods (like
genetic engineering). As for nonagricultural ingredients, these have to be
­specifically allowed on the National List. Finally, sulfites may be added
to wines that carry the “made with organic grapes” label, up to 100 parts
per million.3
Organic certification is generally focused on prohibiting the use of
nonsynthetic materials on plants and soil, while sustainable certification
includes issues like energy use, waste management, water conservation,
and human resources.
The Sonoma County certification program does include a prohibition
of certain red listed pesticides and other materials, and a yellow list of
­discouraged but allowed materials.4

3
  Miles McEvoy and National Organic Program Deputy Administrator. Febru-
ary 21, 2017. “Organic 101: Organic Wine.” www.usda.gov, https://usda.gov/
media/blog/2013/01/08/organic-101-organic-wine
4
  Sonoma County Winegrowers. 2020. “Certified Sustainable Wine | Sonoma
Co Sustainability Program.” Sonoma County Winegrowers, https://sonomawine-
grape.org/growers/sustainability/
 Standards and Certifications 3

Demeter Biodynamic® Certification

Demeter USA is the only certifier for Biodynamic® farms and products in
America. It is part of a worldwide organization, Demeter International,
which was first formed in 1928 to advocate Biodynamic agriculture
and to certify Biodynamic farms. Demeter remains the oldest ecolog-
ical c­ ertification organization in the world, active in 50 countries around
the globe.5
Two criteria distinguish it from other forms of organic farming6:

• The use of a complex system of herbal sprays and composting

techniques, known as preparations
• The timing of the operations on the land, which is strictly
regulated by the movements of the spheres

  Demeter U.S.A. n.d. “Demeter Biodynamic Certification—Demeter USA.”

5

www.demeter-usa.org, https://demeter-usa.org/certification/
6
 Morethanorganic. n.d. “Biodynamic Viticulture.” morethanorganic.com,
https://morethanorganic.com/biodynamic-viticulture
4 Healthy Vines, Pure Wines

LODI RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing:

LODI RULES began as a mission in 1992 to educate others and d ­ iminish
the use of pesticides, eventually turning into a formal certification pro-
gram with more than 1,000 certified vineyards to date. The LODI
RULES program was launched in 2005 and is headquartered just south
of Sacramento in one of the few American viticulture areas (AVA) with
ancient vines that survived through the Prohibition era.

LODI RULES has six areas of focus: (1) business management,

(2)  human resource management, (3) ecosystem management, (4) soil
management, (5) water management, and (6) pest management; and over
100 sustainability practices that are called Standards, which have been
peer reviewed by scientists, academics, and environmental organizations.
Annual verification is required.
Today three variations of those rules exist: LODI RULES,
­CALIFORNIA RULES, and a universal RULES seal. Each seal has the
same requirements for certification; seal usage will differ based on where
the winery or vineyard is located.

Regenerative Organic Certified (RGO)

Regenerative Organic Certified was established in 2017 by a group of
farmers, business leaders, and experts in soil health, animal welfare,
and social fairness collectively called the Regenerative Organic Alliance.
 Standards and Certifications 5

Their  goal is to heal a broken system, repair a damaged planet, and

empower farmers and consumers to create a better future through better
farming.
By adopting regenerative organic practices on more farms around the
world, they hope to create long-term solutions to some of the ­biggest
issues of our time, including the climate crisis, factory farming, and
­fractured rural economies.

Sustainability Certifications
While organics mainly concerns a focus on products used, ­sustainability
certifications are concerned with water and energy efficiency in the
­vineyard and winery. They vary greatly because of the environmental
needs of ­differing regions and how organizations have decided to measure
efficiency.

California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA)

and Certified ­California Sustainable Vineyard and
Winery (CCSW)

CSWA started as the Sustainable Winegrowing Program in 2001.

­Members of Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape
Growers (CAWG) created the program to promote vineyards and winery
practices that are sensitive to the environment, responsive to the needs
and interests of society-at-large, and economically feasible to implement
and maintain. CAWG is a public policy advocacy group of wine grape
growers, representing more than 60 percent of the total annual grape
crush. Together, the Wine Institute and CAWG developed the Code of
6 Healthy Vines, Pure Wines

Sustainable Winegrowing Practices workbook as the basis for the Sustain-

able Winegrowing Program, providing a tool for vintners and growers
to assess their practices and learn how to improve their overall sustain-
ability. Wine Institute and CAWG formed the California Sustainable
­Winegrowing Alliance to assist in program implementation.
Several of the state’s winegrowing regions and other ­organizations
have sustainable and environmental certification programs, many
of which provided the foundation for the statewide California Sustainable
Winegrowing ­Program (CSWA), and all of which play an important role
­

in the ­ever-­expanding tapestry of the California wine community’s efforts

to produce high quality wine. California wine grape growers and vintners
have ­multiple factors to consider when choosing the right certification
program, and we encourage growers and vintners to consider all options
available before choosing.
CCSW has eight years of recognition in the marketplace and was
ranked as the most known sustainability certification program by 457 US
wine trade in a recent trade survey (December 2016, Wine Opinions).
CSWA expects that recognition to grow, as the program’s growth contin-
ues to increase every year. In addition, CCSW is included in the domestic
and international communications efforts of CSWA and Wine Institute,
which has export marketing programs in 25 countries. The further the
distance from California, the more important it becomes for wine regions
and AVAs to identify as being under the California umbrella.
While CSWA advocates for the adoption of sustainable practices
regardless of vineyards’ and wineries’ decision to pursue certification,
CCSW can add credibility to sustainability claims. The new CCSW logo
for wine labels indicates that both the winery is certified and 85 percent
or more of the grapes are from certified vineyards. CSWA accepts Lodi
Rules and SIP-Certified in the 85 percent rule for certified grapes because
the programs also cover the 3 E’s of sustainability and include comparable
required practices, transparent standards, continuous improvement, and
annual third-party audits.7

7
  The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA). n.d. “California
Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.” www.sustainablewinegrowing.org, https://
sustainablewinegrowing.org
 Standards and Certifications 7

Napa Green
According to their website, Napa Green Land is currently an umbrella
program that recognizes growers with validated environmental compli-
ance and verified Farm Plans as meeting our standards for watershed
stewardship. These vineyard owners and managers develop custom,
whole-property Farm Plans to:

• Prevent erosion and sediment runoff

• Reduce and eliminate potentially harmful inputs
• Conserve water resources through efficient irrigation and frost
protection
• Protect and restore riparian habitat
• Contribute to a healthy and thriving Napa River watershed

Napa Green also certifies wineries, with a separate label.8

Sonoma Sustainable
In 2014, Sonoma County’s Winegrowers made a bold commitment: to
become the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world, and to that
end they created Sonoma Sustainable, a label supporting a countywide
effort to reach 100 percent sustainability in Sonoma County. The first phase
of this effort focuses on helping winegrowers assess their sustainable vine-
yard practices through trainings and educational sessions. Over 200 best
management practices are taken into account, such as land use, canopy
management, energy efficiency, water quality assessments, carbon emis-
sions. Vineyard acres are then assessed, and phase two involves the Sonoma
County Winegrowers working with vineyard owners to achieve certification.

Land-Smart and Fish Friendly

Fish Friendly Farming, run by the California Land Stewardship I­ nstitute, was
the sole path to Napa Green Land certification. The inclusion of LandSmart

8
 Napa Green. n.d. “Napa Green—Caring for Nature Elevates Quality &
­Experience.” Napa Green, https://napagreen.org
8 Healthy Vines, Pure Wines

is intended to provide landowners with an additional ­certification option,

with the goal of increasing the overall Napa Green acreage in Napa County
and helping land owners become certified more quickly.9

Salmon-Safe
Focused on areas with fragile riparian areas, Salmon-Safe works with
West Coast farmers, viticulturists, developers, and other environmen-
tally ­innovative landowners to reduce watershed impacts through
rigorous third-party verified certification. In particular, rainwater run-
off, long-term soil conservation and a “whole farm,” approach which
includes ­nonvineyard crops and any noncropped areas, all aimed to
support salmon populations. Most recently, Salmon-Safe and Demeter
have ­harmonized standards so that West Coast vineyards that achieve
­Biodynamic ­certification also earn Salmon-Safe certification.10

SIP Certified (Sustainability in Practice)

SIP Certified is a rigorous sustainable vineyard, winery, and wine certifi-

cation with strict, non-negotiable standards based on science and expert
input, independent verification, transparency, and absence of conflict

9
 Patsy McGaughy. June 23, 2016. “LandSmart Program Offers Additional
Path to Napa Green Land Certification.” napavintners.com, https://napavint-
ners.com/press/press_release_detail.asp?ID_News=3621812
10
 Salmon-Safe Inc. n.d. “Salmon-Safe Protects Rivers, Native Salmon and
Watersheds in the Pacific Northwest.” Salmon-Safe, https://salmonsafe.org
 Standards and Certifications 9

of interest. Certification addresses the 3 Ps of Sustainability—People,

Planet, Prosperity—ensuring that both natural and human resources are
protected. The rules, called Standards, require a measurable, holistic set
of practices addressing habitat, water, energy, soil, recycling, air quality,
packaging, pest management, social equity, and business management.
Participants document over 50 requirements and implement practices
to achieve 75 percent of the total available points. Practices are verified
through independent records and on-site inspections, and receive final
approval from an independent advisory board.
SIP Certified launched its pilot program in 2008 with 3,700 acres
of vines between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. Today, there are
43,600 vineyard acres in California and Michigan, two wineries and more
than 43 million bottles of wine that have been SIP Certified. ­Consumers
around the world can now find a wide array of sustainably produced
wines to fit their needs, budgets and stylistic preferences.11

On Label Clarity
Different wineries and vineyards featured in this book have ­chosen
to ­pursue various standards in line with their own personal goals.
For instance, there is a distinction between Certified Organic Wine,
­Certified Organic Grapes, and Farmed Organically but not certified,
each of which tells the consumer how the grapes are grown and how the
wine is made.
Under the USDA National Organic Program, sulfites are classified
as a synthetic food additive and therefore are not allowed in organic
wine. Because of this, many winemakers do not pursue an organic wine
­certification as they cannot guarantee a quality final product without
the addition of sulfites. Instead, many have chosen to farm their grapes
organically and use certified organic grapes in their winemaking.
Some have chosen to farm organically or Biodynamically but not go
through the certification process with reasons behind that choice as varied
as the winemakers themselves.

11
 SIP Certified .n.d. “Sustainable Vineyards, Wineries and Wines | SIP
­Certified.” www.sipcertified.org, https://sipcertified.org
10 Healthy Vines, Pure Wines

Operating in the organic movement for more than 40 years, Amigo

Bob Cantisano has become the name in the field. In conducting research
and winery visits for this book, we discovered that Amigo Bob was
­instrumental in transitioning many of the organic vineyards in the Napa/
Sonoma area. We spoke with Amigo Bob at length about the early organic
movement in California, learned his history, and got details on organic
farming methods currently in practice. Amigo Bob has been an invaluable
resource for writing this book.
 Index
alcohol by volume (ABV), 134 Cabernet Country, 90
American viticulture areas (AVA), 4, California, 1, 6, 11, 26, 32, 37–39, 41,
6, 54, 83, 139–145 45–47, 49, 50, 53–55, 61, 66,
Amigo Bob Cantisano, 10–21, 24, 81, 94, 107, 108, 115–117
25, 30, 33, 70, 80, 82, 92 California Certified Organic Farmers
climate change, 18 (CCOF), 1–2, 13, 57–59, 70,
in France, 19 72, 80, 82, 85, 90, 106, 120,
green farming, 15–18 132
on infestation, 33 California Department of Fish and
Organic Ag Advisors, 13–15 Wildlife (CDFW), 73
on sustainablity, 20–21 California Sprawl trellis system, 30
on terrior, 20 California Sustainable Winegrowing
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée Alliance (CSWA), 5–6, 38
(AOC), 39 Catalan Country Kitchen, 95
arachnids, 32–33 Certified California Sustainable
Associate of Fish & Wildlife Agencies’ Vineyard and Winery
(AFWA), 72 (CCSW), 5–6
Certified Leafroll-free Grapevine
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray, Stock, 35
27–28, 80 Chardonnay grape, 50, 52, 63, 91,
barrel aging, 137 92, 94, 97, 104, 106, 120,
Bell, M., 53–56 122, 124, 143, 144
beneficial bacteria and biological Chile, 42
controls, 31 chitin, 71
Benziger Winery, 109–113 Clean Wine, 76, 77
Berillon, L., 40–41 climate change, 18, 37–44
biodiversity, 33 Cline Family Cellars, 143
Biodynamic, 3, 8, 21, 41, 46, 48, 50, Coho Broodstock Program, 73
57–59, 62, 63, 65, 66, 75, 93, cold air movement, 27
97, 99, 109–113, 115–126, Community-Supported Agriculture
128–130, 132, 140, 143 (CSA), 79, 108
Biomite Organic Miticide, 34 conventional farming, 11, 15, 16, 58,
bioturbators, 23 109, 160
bird populations, 87 Coopersmith Vineyard, 102
Blaufrankisch, 59 Coturri, 131–132
Boisset, J.-C., 115–118, 122, 126 cover crops, 23–24
Bordeaux Superior, 39 COVID-19, 49
bottling, 137–138 Cukierman, J., 40
Brandt, T., 47–49 cuvée, 48, 64, 66
Brix measurement, 134
Broken Leg Vineyard, 48 Deerfield Ranch Winery, 75–78
Burnt Hill, 67 deLaski, A., 46, 57–58
162 Index

DeLoach Vineyards, 118–122 International Wineries for Climate

Demeter Biodynamic Certification, Action (IWCA), 39
3, 8, 48, 58, 109, 110, irrigation, 24
120–121, 123–124, 126
DeNitrification-DeComposition Jackson, K., 39, 44
(DNDC) model, 38
Department of Fish and Game, Keller Estate, 144
72–73 Kenwood Marsh, 75
direct-to-consumer (DTC), 49
Donkey & Goat winery, 47, 49–52 La Garagista, 61–64
downy mildew, 34 LandSmart, 7–8
Drori, E., 42–43 Leadership in Energy and
dry-farming, 25–26 Environmental Design
Dumont, A., 40 (LEED) certification, 80–81,
83
EcoFarm Conference, 13 leaf pulling, 72
eutypa dieback, 32 leafroll, 34–35
Lepeltier, P., 44
farming, 15–18, 23–28 Littorai Wines, 97–100
faunal support, 86–87 LODI RULES, 4
Felix Gillet Institute (FGI), 13
fermentation, 134–137 McEvoy Ranch, 144
Fish Friendly Farming, 7–8 Makjavich vineyard, 55
France, 39–42 malolactic fermentation (MLF), 51,
Frog’s Leap Winery, 12, 79–84 52
frost protection, 26–27 manifesto (2009), 50–52
fruit thinning, 72 Margins Wine, 53–56
Marimar Estate Vineyards and Estate,
Grape Creek, 72–73 91–96
grape farming, 70, 113 Martorana Family Vineyards and
grape pomace, 24 Winery, 70–74
greenwashing, 21 Matthiasson Wines, 106–108
Grüner Veltliner, 59 Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), 121
Merry Edwards Winery, 101–105
habitats, 33 mildew, 19, 27, 30–31, 67, 71, 80,
hand harvest, 72 110, 133
Haven Vineyard, The, 97 downy, 34
Hermitage, 40 powdery, 30–32, 71, 98, 128
Hinton, L., 65–67 milk, 31–32
hunters, 23 mites, 33–34

Imagery Estate Winery, 109 Napa County, 8, 124, 125

infestations, 32–33 Napa Green, 7
insects, 23, 32–33 Napa Valley, 81–82
International Agency for Research on Napa Valley Discount, The, 20
Cancer (IARC), 29 Napa Valley Vintners, 86
 Index 163

National Marine Fisheries Service Sangiacomo Family Vineyards,

(NMFS), 73 144–145
natural winemaking, 41, 43, 45–68, sap flow monitors, 25
132 Sauvignon Blanc, 72
Negev, 42 seven generation stewardship, 86
nematodes, 34 soil health & compost, 88
soil moisture probes, 25
Old Westminster, 65–68 Solminer, 57–60
Olio Di Gio, 74 Sonoma County, 2, 7, 24, 70, 74,
Organic Ag Advisors, 13–14 100, 112, 113, 139,
Organic Foods Production Act 142, 143
(OFPA), 1 Sonoma Sustainable, 7
organic viticulture, 46, 123, 131 South Africa, 42–44
oxalis, 98 spraying oil, 31
sprays, 27–28
Pépinières Viticoles Lilian Berillon, 40 standards, 4
pesticides, 23 stream management projects, 73
pest management, 18 suckering, 72
Petaluma Gap AVA, 139–145 sugar content, 133–134
Phil Coturri, 131–132 sulfites, 2, 9, 76, 104
Pinot Noir grape, 55, 91, 92, 97, 104, sulfur application, 31
118–120, 122, 124, 143, 144 sulfur dioxide (SO2), 76
Pivot Vineyard, The, 97 sur lie, 52
plant diversity, 88 sustainability certifications, 5–6
planting & trellis design, 30 Sustainability in Practice (SIP
pollinators, 23 Certified), 8–9, 67
polyculture, 32–33 sustainable agriculture, 13
powdery mildew, 30–32, 71, 98, 128 sustainable farming, 15, 24, 86, 99,
preparations, 3 115, 143, 144
pressure chambers, 25 sustainablity, 20–21, 132
Progressive Viticulture, 38
punching down, 135 terrior, 12, 20, 39–42, 44, 50, 59, 62,
92, 94, 101, 104, 110, 117,
racking, 137 120, 124, 132, 140, 145
Raymond Vineyards, 123–130 Theater of Nature, 124–125
red wine, 135–137 3-tiered approach, 18
regenerative agriculture, 45, 53, 58 Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Regenerative Organic Certified (TTB), 142
(RGO), 4–5, 59 Torres, M., 42
Roundup, 16–17, 21, 29, 46, 68, Tres Sabores Vineyards, 85–90
132
Rue Des Belles Caves, 41 Union of Bordeaux AOC (Appellation
Russian River Watershed, 73 d’Origine Contrôlée), 39
United States Department of
Saint-Lo, F., 41 Agriculture (USDA) Organic,
Salmon-Safe certification, 8 1–2
Sam Coturri, 131–132 USDA National Organic Program, 9
164 Index

veraison, 31, 52, 129, 134 whole farm approach, 8

vineyard Williams, J., 12, 16, 79, 82, 83, 85
issues, 29–35 wine country, 12, 20, 69–113, 139
timeline of, 72 wine making, 133–138
waste, 24 wire moving, 72
Vouillamoz, J., 37, 44 women, 45, 47, 55, 91, 95, 107
Wright, J., 43
water management, 18
weather stations, 25 Xylella fastidiosa, 87
weed control, 29
weed management, 18 Zayante Vineyard, 55
whey, 31