The Green Winegrowing Handbook was created by Paul Dolan Vineyards and Parducci Wine Cellars. Not only is this handbook about about organic and biodynamic vineyard practices but it is printed on 100% PCW Recycled Paper with Soy Inks. Obviously they practice what they talk about. The handbook is only 48 pages long including room for notes.
Being short means that it’s a quick reference and not one of those 3oo page books with a great title but long and onerous to read and put into practice. Chapter 1 is Sustainable Farming and Winemaking. Chapter 2 is entitled Organic Farming and Winemaking and Chapter 3 is Biodynamic Farming and Winemaking. Descriptions of several preparations used in Biodynamic farming are also discussed. These preparations described include Horn Manure, Horn Silica, Yarrow, Chamomile, Stinging Nettle, Oak Bark, Dandelion, Valerian and Horsetail. The glossary at the end of the handbook is descriptive of terms we often hear in relationship to organic and biodynamic concepts and is a quick reference for anyone who wants information about them.
Be sure to visit these websites to learn more about what they are doing in the organic and biodynamic sphere – www.parducci.com and www.pauldolanvineyards.com.
Cheers! kathy
I find that I am more interested in visiting vineyards now that I am going to plant a row of Petit Manseng in Maryland. Before I was interested in a vineyard’s architecture, vines and grape development for photography purposes. However while in Mendocino I started paying attention to trellis systems, pruning techniques, organic farming and biodynamics.
Usually when touring a vineyard we hope into a truck or SUV. Sometimes a smaller automobile will takes us through a vineyard. We have had vineyard tours in Tuscany and California (Suisun Valley, Lake County and Mendocino County). Of all the tours, only in Mendocino were we treated to a tour of the vineyard in a horse drawn carriage at McDowell Valley Vineyards and a tour of the vineyards in a Mercedes at BARRA of Mendocino Winery. We found the horse drawn carriage ride through the vineyard to be quite comfortable. It was also easy to take photographs and video. The ride through a vineyard in a Mercedes was also comfortable and I thought about my brother driving his Mercedes through a vineyard…
After visiting the wonderful grape growers in Mendocino County I have new plans for my row of Petit Manseng. First, I plan to hoe the row rather than using RoundUp. At the ends of the row, I’m thinking of placing wild flower gardens to attract insects. Perhaps I can plant my vines a bit closer together to give me a ten-foot strip at the row’s ends. I can also start making compost to spread under the vines next year. Much can be learned about farming and grape growing from those who have grown grapes for most of their lives. Now I’m interested in finding a female cow’s horn. I’m very curious about biodynamics.
Cheers,
Terry
Howard County, Maryland is pressing forward to make the county winery friendly. Today the county executive, Ken Ulman, is announcing that he will introduce legislation that will enable property owners to have vineyards as well as to open wineries in the county.
The announcement at Tin Lizzie Wineworks in Clarksville, Maryland will include a tour of the recently planted vineyard at Tin Lizzie as well as a quick course on producing wine.
Such legislation will be beneficial to Howard County where there has been a large influx of new homes and businesses. There has always been concern especially in the western part of the county to preserve the land. What better way to preserve farmland than by planting vineyards that can potentially continue for 80 to 100 years!
Remember the Wine in the Woods festival takes place in Columbia, Maryland only minutes from Tin Lizzie Wineworks, this weekend. Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to taste numerous wines produced throughout Maryland. Of course there will be music, food and arts/crafts to enjoy.
Cheers! Kathy
Occasionally our perceptions of what we know, read or hear are different than the reality. I was surprised yesterday while driving from San Jose to Sonoma County in California. The state is known worldwide for its wines. What came as a surprise is how long one can drive in California without ever seeing a single vineyard. I decided to time this lack of vineyard observation. The first vineyard was south of Santa Rosa about one hour forty minutes after we left the car rental at the San Jose airport. This leads one to think, “How much space do vineyards in a state or country actually take up?”
Even for California, I have the feeling that number is low. Today we are off to visit wineries in Mendocino County. The 343-vineyard growers account for 19,322 acres of grapes. This wine grape acreage is only 0.68% of the county’s total acreage. Other California wine regions have a larger percentage of vineyard acreage, but those numbers are not out of this world. Mendocino County claims that 28% of their wine grapes are certified as organic or biodynamic. This would put Mendocino County with more acreage of organic or biodynamic wine grapes than any other wine grape growing region in the county. I find this to be surprising.
I had a similar surprise when traveling from Florence to Sienna in Italy. I had heard on several occasions that “Italy is not a country, it’s a vineyard.” My actual observation is that it is the other way around. Although there are many vineyards in Italy, there are also many areas devoted to non-wine grape vineyards.
Cheers,
Terry
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Legislation Proposed to Support Vineyards/Wineries in Maryland County
Howard County, Maryland is pressing forward to make the county winery friendly. Today the county executive, Ken Ulman, is announcing that he will introduce legislation that will enable property owners to have vineyards as well as to open wineries in the county.
The announcement at Tin Lizzie Wineworks in Clarksville, Maryland will include a tour of the recently planted vineyard at Tin Lizzie as well as a quick course on producing wine.
Such legislation will be beneficial to Howard County where there has been a large influx of new homes and businesses. There has always been concern especially in the western part of the county to preserve the land. What better way to preserve farmland than by planting vineyards that can potentially continue for 80 to 100 years!
Remember the Wine in the Woods festival takes place in Columbia, Maryland only minutes from Tin Lizzie Wineworks, this weekend. Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to taste numerous wines produced throughout Maryland. Of course there will be music, food and arts/crafts to enjoy.
Cheers! Kathy