Inside Sonoma

We don’t dispute that the wine at Preston Vineyards is among the best in the western part of Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Valley. But we here at Green Sonoma go there for another reason entirely: to buy produce from the joint’s on-site certified organic garden.

Pretty much whenever you visit (even now, folks), the front (and covered) porch of the main tasting room is overflowing with fresh produce that’s all grown on-site.

Lima beans, tomatoes, potatoes and greens—you name the veggie, you’ll likely find it there.

The biggest bounty comes in the spring, with everything from onions to chilies, eggplant, squash and herbs. Preston also makes (and sells) its own olive oil from olives that grow on property.

After harvesting, Preston employees organize the vegetables by type in baskets and boxes and place them on antique furniture along the patio of the tasting room (which is an old farm house). Visitors can select what they want, paying for desired veggies by pound.

To some extent, this modest produce business is set up on the honor system; unscrupulous visitors technically could pocket some potatoes and dash away. To deter this behavior, Preston usually dispatches one or two workers to man the tables during busy days (such as the Winter Wineland event this past weekend).

According to owners Susan and Lou Preston, the vegetables (and the garden where they grow) embody the winery’s overarching commitment to organic farming and sustainability.

The entire 125-acre facility achieved recognition as a Certified California Organic Farm (CCOF) in 2005 and has been growing organically ever since. You’ll never find synthetic chemicals or sprays on site; you will find lots of cover crops, compost and deep tillage.

Good wine, great produce and an admirable commitment to respecting the earth. Preston is indeed a special place. To learn more, visit www.prestonvineyards.com.