Below is a sampling of the sustainable practices adopted by the Certified Participant. This is not an exhaustive list of the sustainable practices adopted, but is designed to give you some idea of the types of practices they use to demonstrate the breadth of practices that are included in their sustainability initiative. Please click on the photos to view a larger image.
Viticulture
Canopy management: balanced vines, VSP trellis system.


Soil Management
Compost – fertilizers, petiole analysis, soil analysis, soil pits, ripping and cover crops



Vineyard Water Management
- Off-peak irrigation, every three years tested for Ec, pH, SAR, N03-N, Na, Cl, HC03 and B.
- Water analysis every 3 years, use of ESI growpoint soil moisture sensors. Use of infra-red aerial imagery.

Pest Management
Bird netting, onsite inspections and threshold level applications.

Wine Quality
Annual juice chemistry records and evaluation, Santa Lucia Highlands Appellation, French Oak Barrel Fermentation

Ecosystem Management
Owl boxes – wildlife corridor, and oak woodland management

Energy Management
Implementation of Energy Efficiency Plan for irrigation and equipment. Every two years pump and well tested for energy efficiency.
Material Handling
Pesticide storage areas.
Human Resources
Employee meeting regarding:
- Company philosophies and goals
- Company insurance and 401K plans
Neighbors And Community
No bird guns after 5pm. Spray drift management.
Air Quality
Dust control, chip and mulch waste (no burning). Spraying done only under wind speeds of 8-10 mph.