Pest management

We use an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term pest prevention through a combination of biological control, habitat manipulation, and modification of traditional cultural practices.

It is not possible to grow grapes in California, or elsewhere for that matter, without the use of some pesticides. You might get by for short periods, but all common wine grape varieties are susceptible to powdery mildew; late spring to early summer weather conditions in wine country provide the perfect environment for powdery mildew. Other fungal diseases; for example, botrytis, as well as insects also present pest management challenges in most wine growing areas.

Our philosophy for managing these pest challenges is to use low impact, natural materials where possible, and to do so as infrequently and in as small a quantity as is prudent. In our vineyard, the only pesticides we use are to battle powdery mildew. Other pests present low enough risks in our particular environment that we are able to manage without supplemental pesticides.

Our powdery mildew program relies on two types of material, a clear mineral or horticultural oil (Organic Stylet Oil), and two bio-fungicides (Serenade and Sonata) that utilize selected bacteria strains that target the powdery mildew fungus.

Applications of these fungicides are scheduled using the Gubler-Thomas Powdery Mildew Risk Index, which is implemented in a weather station in the vineyard. Adherence to the Risk Index model enables us to get by with 2-4 fewer sprays each season than most growers who rely strictly on calendar- based spray programs that prescribe, for example, spraying every  14 days.

Specific practices in irrigation, grapevine nutrition, and weed control continue here