Certified Sustainable
As a family winery who has farmed for 80 years in the Dry Creek Valley, we want the next generations to be able to continue farming in an environmentally sensitive way. The most important statement we can make about our wine is that we are here for the long term and protecting the environment is one way we will achieve that goal.
At Pedroncelli Winery, we practice sustainable winegrowing and, over the years, we have been reducing water use, building healthy soil, and protecting the vineyard environment. This is a comprehensive approach to vineyard management that involves all aspects of farming including human resources, viticulture, soil management, water management, pest management, habitat management, and wine quality.
Examples of Sustainable farming practices at Pedroncelli Winery:
- Compost of grape pomace, vineyard prunings, and other mature organic materials are spread in the vineyard to replenish the soil and stems are spread on roadways for erosion control.
- Hillside vineyards are terraced and drainage is engineered to minimize water erosion.
- All pruning, thinning and harvesting is done by hand reducing carbon emissions from mechanical equipment.
- Planting cover crops to improve the land's natural fertility, control erosion and host beneficial insects. Cover crops such as barley, oats, and bell beans are all grown naturally and are chopped and turned into the soil to replenish nitrogen and oxygen and naturally prevent soil compaction.
- Significant acreage is dedicated to permanent cover crops or no-till vegetation aiding in erosion control and lower green-house emissions.
- Synthetic pesticides are not used on our Home Ranch vineyards. Cover crops provide habitat to attract beneficial insects that prey on insect pests.
- Soil moisture content is checked weekly by vineyard management experts to dictate when and how much water is applied to vineyards so grapevines do not have to compete for water with cover crop.
- Insect pests, powdery mildew and bunch rot are reduced through leaf removal and canopy management thus reducing the need for synthetic fungicides.
