Tag Archives: biodynamic

New wine tour celebrates biodynamic growing

With a growing number of wineries in the Dry Creek Valley embracing the wonders of biodynamic farming, an eco-conscious tour outfitter based in Petaluma recently unveiled a five-hour wine tour that pays special homage to this Earth-friendly way of operating business. The company, Pure Luxury, dubs the new offering its “Eco Wine Tour.” OK, it’s not the snappiest name. But {…}

Quivira 2008 Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

The Fig Tree Vineyard is so-named for a large, centurion fig tree–so does it follow that Wine Creek flows with wine? Not exactly. In the good old/bad old days, it’s said that the creek served as a drain pipe for local wineries. Contrary to rumor and unfortunately for them, the resident salmon population doesn’t drink like fish. Quivira Vineyards, a {…}

Ruby in the Rough

Andrew was the cleanest farmer I had met in a while, but after I took a closer look at his callused hands and listened to his perspective on Bulgarian-Italian mixed wild pigs, rye grass, and soil, I knew he was the real McCoy. Quivira is an exceptional, certified biodynamic winery on Old Dry Creek Road, one of the best windy {…}

Benziger 2005 Ooanapais Estate Sonoma Mountain Red

There really is a sleepy little hamlet in the heart of Sonoma Valley as pictured on tetra packs of the widely available Glen Ellen Wine. The Benziger family sold the successful brand in 1993, but they stayed put-and also pushed on, creating ever deeper connections between their wine and picturesque land. Benziger’s estate wines are Demeter certified, meaning they adhere {…}

Earth Day/Week/Month 2009!

Sonoma seems to celebrate Earth Day the way I celebrate my birthday: over as many days possible.  Earth ‘Day’ events have already begun and continue through the end of April. As someone who spent the last four years in the not-so-eco-conscious South, I am excited for what Sonoma County has in store. Bring on the crunchiness! Green Valley Earth Day {…}

Health Care for Dirt: Biodynamic Farming in Sonoma

The past few weeks I’ve been on the edge of my proverbial seat, wondering whether my health coverage will continue with my current provider. The whole thing has got me overly self-involved, a mess of needless worry. So as I take a break from my own fickle worrying, I don’t stray far from my original subject: health. The soil in {…}

Quivira Vineyards: Organic, Biodynamic and Solar

As Sonoma County sees a bit of mist in the air, we lose the golden hills of summer and usher in the greens and emeralds of winter. To complement our winter look, some info on one of our green wineries, Quivira Vineyards. Located in the heart of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, Quivira Vineyards. a small family owned winery, is {…}