Bonterra Wines of Distinction

By Dani Vargas, Wine and Beer Overseer, from the February 2003 Newsletter

"When we set out to make a wine of distinction, we had to make the right choices. For Bonterra, that meant the choice to use organically grown grapes because we have learned through experience that only organically grown grapes can express the purity and intensity of varietal character that a truly great wine requires. Bonterra grapes offer a quality of fruit and vibrancy of taste that's unparalleled in the world of ordinary wines." (Robert Blue, Winemaker)

The Bonterra Ranch consists of a 378-acre vineyard located in the Russian River benchlands of Mendocino County, California. It is the passionate belief of all involved with Bonterra that organic viticulture is the right and the best way to grow grapes. The principal guidelines for organic farming are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems. Organic production integrates the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole. The ultimate goal of organic is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals, and people. Bonterra is committed to organic farming and have been for 13 years. They have created an organic viticulture program that works for them. Eight key elements make up this successful program; they are:

1. Birdhouses: Placed to attract bluebirds and swallows, which consume unwanted insects.
2. Chicken Coops: Free-range chickens eat cutworms and other insects.
3. Soil Management: Cultivation is practiced to regulate competition for nutrients and relieve soil compaction.
4. Biodiversity: A major contributor to the quality of their wines that requires both plants and animals for success.
5. Integrated Pest Management: Nectar rich plants attract beneficial insects that protect vineyards from pest infestation.
6. Habitat Divides: Insect life is bountiful within these divides. They are attracted to the variety of native wildflowers and other plants.
7. Cover Crops: Yellow mustard is one of the many crops grown and plowed into the rich soil.
8. Compost: The typically heavy clay soil found in the Mendocino County region is lightened with compost created at the Bonterra Ranch.

Robert Blue, the Bonterra winemaker, has worked incredibly hard to ensure his wines meet their requirements. He has raised the bar for many, becoming one of the first wineries in the world to be granted certification from the UK's Soil Association.

The Soil Association's standards are more demanding than general EU organic standards; they are considered to be the "Gold Standard" of such credible organic certifiers. Bonterra is also the first major wine brand to carry the Soil Association logo on its labels.

"The work being done by Bonterra to spread the word about the principles and practices that lie behind their range of organic wines is an important contribution to the work of the organic movement as a whole," said Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association.

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