The Story of Our Biodynamic Vineyard Biodynamics at Eco Terreno
We staunchly believe that in order to become understanding of water usage to planting a successful grape growers and winemakers, we substantial bee garden, all of our work has must first create a healthy native ecosystem directly translated into us becoming more for our vineyards. In fact we’re so passionate informed stewards of our resources. In about being dedicated caretakers of the restoring the natural riparian areas on land that we named ourselves our property along the Russian “Great wines are not produced, Eco Terreno, which means “of River’s native wild habitats they are carefully cultivated.” the land” in Italian and “Land we are joining the cultivated Ecology in Spanish.” This and the non-cultivated lands passion has led to our transition together. We believe that by
Mark Lyon, WINEMAKER to organic and biodynamic actively promoting biodiversity farming practices that are necessary to in our vineyards, we will explicitly becoming strong regenerative growers. From produce grapes and wine that reflect the planting cover crops to developing a holistic full expression of our terroir.
The Biodynamic farming standard was the world’s first organic standard, started in 1928, by farmers in Austria and Germany. Today farmers in more than in 42 countries practice Biodynamic farming. how biodynamic is different
Biodynamics is a holistic approach to farming In short, biodynamic viticulture takes us developed in the 1920’s as a response to the beyond organic farming, to a system where failures of chemical agriculture. Founded the subtle influences of the seasons, the by scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner, movement of the moon and planets, and the ancient practices were married with an dynamic interplay of life above and below understanding of chemistry and plant ground coalesces in the grapes grown and physiology to create a system that treats wines made. The intention of the farmer the farm as a whole as a living individual and even the consumer are seen as affecting organism. The goal is to create a healthy the end product, creating influence on the environment, not only for the crop under quantum level. The end goal is one where cultivation, but for the people who work Healthy Farms make Healthy Food, creating the land and the natural organisms who live Healthy Communities, human and wild alike. there or are under its influence.
How is Biodynamic farming different from organic practices? WHOLE FARM The broadest standard is a APPROACH requirement that Biodynamic farms In addition to organic methods, are managed holistically. That herbal and mineral sprays and means encouraging the weaving compost are used, sections together of the hundreds of species of the farm set aside for and interactions on the farm to biodiversity and a whole create a healthy environment farm approach is applied and a flourishing ecosystem. to managing the farm.
MATERIALS BIO-DIVERSITY Farmers are required to use Biodynamic farmers are also traditional herbal and mineral required to set aside 10 percent preparations as vineyard sprays of the farm for biodiversity, and to make enhanced compost. ensuring that natural These promote plant health and environments are protected. prevent diseases. Soil Bio char
Grapevines are known as Part of the cycle of a vineyard amazingly hardy, vigorous, and is the removal of older resilient plants which can thrive vines or vines which have under careful cultivation. As proven less vigorous in their with the human-health motto, respective climate, soil, or “you are what you eat”, with location. Historically, these plants it is “they are where they vines are pulled, piled up, grow” The soil being the major and dried out, to be burned source of a plants nutrient and in the winter or spring as a elemental uptake. A healthy means of disposal. Biochar soil food web is now seen as the utilizes an ancient method of major means to feed a plant. By soil creation rediscovered and feeding the soil, we are feeding refined. By managing the size this diverse environment of and moisture content of the billions of organisms, which, material, the shape of the pile, when properly balanced, in and the method of ignition, we turn feeds the plants. Thus, are able to burn with very little major attention is placed on smoke or carbon put off to the everything we put on and in atmosphere, creating a stable the ground. form of carbon amendment which acts as a sponge for water, microorganisms, and plant nutrients for years and even decades. Bio preps compost
The Biodynamic preparations Biodynamics looks at the are a group of agricultural cow as a major means of formulas created by Rudolf transforming plant matter. Steiner, and by subsequent Not only can the cow provide practitioners, to enhance soil food nutrition to humans, quality and stimulate healthy but their amazing digestive plant growth. The original ability creates manure which group, numbered 500 to 508, then feeds the soil. At Eco include preparations made Terreno, we take organic dairy from cow manure, quartz cow manure and turn with crystal, yarrow, chamomile, organic straw and additional stinging nettle, oak bark, supplemental materials and dandelion, valerian and biodynamic preparations to horsetail. The subtle influence create our own composts of these applications are seen onsite. These are covered as creating a multiplying and allowed to digest and effect, stimulating life at the transform into a stable form boundaries of the landscape of organic matter which is then and within the earth, water, added to our soils in the fall air and ethers. to be assimilated over winter.
Barrel compost
The six biodynamic compost preparations placed into our We have 50 tons of compost barrel compost. each year from organic 505 Oak Bark cow manure, organic straw, 506 Dandelion inoculated with bio-organisms 504 Stinging Nettle and aged for 6 months. 502 Yarrow 507 Valerian 503 Chamomile COVER CROPS TILLAGE
Cover crops are plants In order to create the diversity intentionally planted to cover of life below the soil as well the soil in the vineyard, as to reduce erosion and loss providing food and protection of precious soil moisture, to the life below as well as carbon and nutrients, tillage concentrating minerals and is minimized in much of the elements for the grapevines vineyard. Older vines are assimilation. Our cover crop planted with perennial grasses, mixes include legumes to fix which grow over time and feed nitrogen from the atmosphere, the soil with root exudates deep rooted grasses to break and carbon captured by the up clay soils and bring up air and transformed into root minerals from below, and other materials. Younger vines may flowering plants to attract be tilled to help established beneficial insects and to create strong root systems and then a diverse food source for the transitioned to minimal or soil food web. These may be no till. tilled into the soil to create an in-place composting system mowed to amend by mulching, or harvested for their valuable food, feed and seed yields. bee garden Insectiaries
The Bee Garden at Eco Terreno Bees, both honey and native, was inspired by our logo, which are not the only ones attracted placed reverence on the bee to our gardens and plantings. as an indicator species for a Many other pollinators and healthy environment. Though beneficial organisms are grapevines are wind pollinated, attracted to the native and bees, particularly native bees, flowering plants, including (of which there are some 1600 birds, hummingbirds, in California alone) are a main butterflies, amphibians, reptiles source of pollination for many and beneficial insects such native plants and cultivated as ladybugs, lacewings, and crops. Existing in all shapes parasitic wasps. By providing and sizes, these native insects plant attractors throughout are displaced by agricultural the vineyard, these species activities, and damaged by come in and in return prey on chemical farming methods. various vineyard pests, such We seek to reclaim that as mites, mealybugs and more. balance and educate Biodynamic agriculture looks visitors with the garden and to provide 10% of the property surrounding landscape. for wildlife. At Eco Terreno we look to surpass this number and create colorful, vibrant life at all corners of the property. wildlife River
In addition to providing habitat Located on the Russian River, in our gardens and riparian at the northernmost reaches of areas, we seek to create homes Sonoma County’s Alexander and attractants to beneficial Valley, the vineyard property is organisms throughout the bordered to the west by nearly property. Bluebird boxes are 3/4 of a mile of riverfront and placed in a regular pattern riparian areas. An incredibly throughout the vineyard to rich habitat, wildlife thrives bring life to the air and prey in this area, including osprey, on pests such as leafhoppers. bald eagles, quail, wood Owl boxes and raptor perches ducks, river otters, steelhead are erected to attract barn trout, foxes, bobcat, coyote owls, hawks, falcons, kestrels and many others. We are and others, which in turn prey actively restoring this area by on gophers, voles and other removing non-native plants and damaging species. promoting native vegetation. In turn, the river feeds our aquifers through the soils gravel beds, creating healthy vines. The result
The inspiration for this project, the elegant grape, vitis vinifera. From the intentionally holistic farming methods, the soil building, the preparations, the biochar and carbon capture, the cover crops, insectiary gardens and wildlife habitat–all are part of this organism called Eco Terreno. The ultimate goal, to nurture and enhance the life spirit of this property and to impart that into our product— Eco Terreno Wines.
vineyards & wines Alexander Valley
Our special place in the Alexander Valley provides us with the materials, sunshine and natural influences to grow some of wine country’s best grapes. Situated on an alluvial plan bordering the Russian River, we preserve acres of land – more than 10 percent of our estate - as wild areas for biodiversity, nourishing a flourishing ecosystem along the river, in the woods and on the vineyard. Our vineyards
Our wines are crafted to reflect the purest expression of soil and climate from the Alexander Valley. We are proud to craft wines that are sourced 100% from our Lyon and Cisne vineyards. We strive to grow grapes that truly capture the essence of flavors derived from our unique Alexander Valley terroir. Of special distinction are our fourteen acres are 50+ years old Sauvignon Blanc vines and six acres of 50+ year old Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, which consistently win awards and high scores for our long standing winery customers.
At Eco Terreno, cover crops are also bee gardens.
R Lyon Vineyard U 12 S Cisné Vineyard S I A Number of different N R perennial cover crop I V blends used on E Alexander R Eco Terreno’s vines Valley CALIFORNIA 100+ Number of species of Lyon vineyard Cisne Vineyard flowering plants and grasses used in Eco 122.15 Acres / 92 planted acres Terreno’s cover crops Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, 26.55 Acres / 9 planted Merlot, Cab Franc, Petite Verdot Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay Our wines BARREL FERMENTED / Old Vine BARREL FERMENTED SAUVIGNON BLANC CHARDONNAY
We create the best examples Our Old Vines Sauvignon Our Chardonnay was barrel of what Alexander Valley Blanc was fermented in fermented, with some minimal can produce with wines that barrel with some minimal lees lees stirring to create richness capture the essence of where stirring to create richness and and complexity. Only a we call home. complexity. None of the press partial secondary malolactic wine was used, only free run fermentation was allowed to Our co-founder and master juice so as to preserve the preserve the crisp acidity. The winemaker Mark Lyon has a delicacy and brightness of intent was to make a more rich history in wine growing the fruit which make a rich, understated Chardonnay that and artisan winemaking. For opulent, Californian reflects the clone (Robert Mark, it all started at the Sauvignon Blanc. Young), soils (clay loam), and early age of sixteen when region (Alexander Valley). Mark began to develop a deep-seated passion for fine wines while on frequent family trips across Europe.
THREE VINE RED CABERNET SAUVIGNON A very dark crimson color, almost opaque, with a bright A very dark crimson color, red rim. The nose is very almost opaque, with a bright fragrant with cassis, tobacco red rim. Cassis, blackberry, leaf, herbs, tea, and toasted pomegranate, and caramel coconut impressions with a aromas fill the very fragrant smooth and of medium body. nose. The flavors are similar The finish is medium long with with ripe blackberry and lush plenty of fruit balancing out the pomegranate impressions, and youthful texture. the wine is well balanced and medium-full in body. contact us
If you have a question, comment, suggestion or want to request a tour of our vineyards, please contact: [email protected] 707.938.3833
EcoterrenoWines.com
Photography: James Huff / Eugenio Villasenor