| Chelli Vineyard - Russian
River Valley, Sonoma County |
| This family farm of 12-acres includes "old" vine zinfandel planted
in the late 1800s and farmed by the Arata family from 1906. The
Chelli family purchased the vineyard in 1976 and manages the site with
cover crops and low-chemical usage. The head pruned old zinfandel
vines were put on a regular wire system in 1989. |
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| Clos du Bois Winery and Vineyards - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County |
| www.ClosduBois.com |
| 2003 FISH FRIENDLY FARMING **OUTSTANDING LAND STEWARD**
OF THE YEAR IN SONOMA COUNTY |
 |
Clos du Bois farms over 800 acres in the Alexander Valley
adjacent to the Russian River and Lytton Creek. In 2002, Clos
du Bois received the 2003 Innovator Award from the Department of Pesticide
Regulation for their integrated pest management program that greatly
reduces the use of pesticides in the vineyards. Clos du Bois annually
produces over 7,000 cubic yards of compost for use in the vineyard, increasing
the sustainability of the overall operation. Keith Horn, vineyard manager,
has been involved in numerous habitat enhancement projects on the property
including the removal of several acres of vineyard along Lytton Creek
to allow for restoration of riparian habitat. Clos du Bois is
currently working on removal of large stands of the invasive non-native
plant, Arundo donax, from its riverfront and developing methods to create
compost from the removed plant material. Arundo donax is a major
environmental threat to the Russian River ecosystem. To recognize
their outstanding land stewardship and innovation in both vineyard management
practices and habitat restoration, Clos du Bois is named the 2003 Fish
Friendly Farming Outstanding Land Steward of the Year in Sonoma County |
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| Drake Vineyard - Lower Russian River Valley, Sonoma County |
| This 35-acre vineyard located adjacent to the Russian River in Guerneville
was an apple orchard owned and farmed by Roscoe Drake for many decades. In
1999, William Selyem developed the site as a vineyard. Chris Bowland,
vineyard manager, uses cover crops to protect soil and works with adjacent
residential neighbors to define sustainable practices acceptable to everyone. The
property protects a wide swath of redwood and riparian forest along the
river. |
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| Fetzer Winery - Sundial Vineyard - Hopland Valley, Mendocino
County |
| www.Fetzer.com |
 |
The Fetzer Winery manages 1,000 acres of organically
certified vineyards in the Hopland and Ukiah Valleys. The Sundial
Vineyard is the first of the Fetzer Winery properties to be certified
through the Fish Friendly Farming program. Projects to enhance
habitats and water quality on two sites along the Russian River and in
the foothills east of Hopland have been implemented. Fetzer, and
its sister company Bonterra Vineyards, are pursuing Fish Friendly Farming
certification for additional areas of their property. Fetzer Winery
has been implementing riparian habitat restoration over the past eight
years and protecting water quality through active control of soil erosion
on all portions of their property. |
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| Greenwood Ridge Winery and Vineyards - Anderson Valley, Mendocino County |
| www.GreenwoodRidge.com |
| The Greenwood Ridge Winery includes a 750-acre ranch with 16 acres
of vineyard on Greenwood Ridge above Anderson Valley. Three generations
of the Green family have owned and operated the ranch and winery since
1971. This large ranch provides significant open space and wildlife
habitats while also producing high quality wine grapes. The Green
family has planted numerous redwoods and other trees to enhance the ranch |
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