Practicing Sustainability for People and Planet at Etude and Grace Benoist Ranch
Along with being winemakers, we are also stewards of the land where our wine is grown, including the plants and animals that live there and the water that passes through. We believe sustainable farming results in better, higher quality wine, and ensures the viability of our estate for generations to come. Continue reading to learn about Grace Benoist Ranch and our sustainability efforts in the vineyard.
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Sustainability in Our Vineyard
Between San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Ocean, tucked away in the far northwest corner of the esteemed Carneros Appellation in Sonoma Valley, the 1,500-acre Grace Benoist Ranch is unusual among vineyards.
Instead of planting in a traditional grid style to maximize plantings, the estate vineyards there are configured into dozens of small vineyard sites averaging eight acres in size. With only one-third of the ranch planted to vines, the remaining acreage is left in its natural state to preserve native trees, waterways, ecosystems, and corridors that aid plants and animals.
No Tree Removal
Several native California oak and bay laurel trees grow on the ranch, including one giant specimen with a trunk 56 feet around.
12 Miles Of Wildlife Corridors Maintained
We fence vineyards off separately to protect open spaces, preserve wildlife habitat, and allow for the natural migration patterns throughout the ranch. It’s common to see barn owls, wild turkeys, deer, woodpeckers, bobcats, mountain lions, and several other species, plus wild plants there.
Significant Riparian Setbacks
We protect naturally occurring wetlands and we’re working to control erosion, safeguarding nearby waterways and restoring Champlain Creek, which runs through the south end of the vineyard.
Natural Cover Crop Management
To keep tractors out of the vineyard as much as possible and prevent soil compaction when the ground is wet, sheep are allowed to graze in the vineyard in springtime. Hoof-trodden ground helps percolate rainwater into the soil, and the hungry sheep keep down weeds and cover crops while fertilizing the soil.
Water Resource Sensitivity and Deficit Irrigation
While we use underground well water on site for irrigation as needed, a “pressure chamber” device lets us assess vine water stress so we can irrigate less overall throughout the growing season.
