Big Wine

Will Bucklin at his dry-farmed vineyard Old Hill Ranch in Sonoma Valley. Photograph: Charlotte Simmonds for the Guardian

When in Drought, California Dry-farming by The Guardian

  When in Drought, California Dry-farming by The Guardian Dry farming forgoes modern irrigation and, farmers say, produces much tastier crops. In a drought-stricken state, should others follow suit? Wine grapes were not watered in Sonoma and Napa before the 1970’s. Corporate wine moved in after that and water use became the norm. Grape growers …

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Russian Riverkeepers: Uncharted Waters for the River This Summer

DITCH YOUR LAWNS! Vineyards are bad neighbors… Russian Riverkeepers: Uncharted Waters for the River This Summer This past Sunday, while out on the River, we observed the clearest waters we can remember seeing in over 50 years. With 25+ feet of visibility, we could see the bottom of some of the deepest pools—from Geyserville to …

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BRANDS OWNED BY BIG, CORPORATE WINERIES: A MASTER LIST TO SEE IF A BRAND IS INDEPENDENT OR PART OF A BIG, HULKING WINERY — SECOND HALF 2018 UPDATE

Wine industry consolidation has continued at a rapid pace in the last 2 years. Over 80% of Sonoma and Napa wineries are now corporate entities and profits go out of our area.    BRANDS OWNED BY BIG, CORPORATE WINERIES: A MASTER LIST TO SEE IF A BRAND IS INDEPENDENT OR PART OF A BIG, HULKING …

BRANDS OWNED BY BIG, CORPORATE WINERIES: A MASTER LIST TO SEE IF A BRAND IS INDEPENDENT OR PART OF A BIG, HULKING WINERY — SECOND HALF 2018 UPDATE Read More »

As Sonoma County wants to allow another water sucking industry: California Vineyards Prepare for 2021 Drought Conditions

Sonoma County Supervisors asleep at the wheel: California Vineyards Prepare for 2021 Drought Conditions WINEBUSINESS.COM CLICK ON LINK ABOVE FOR FULL STORY  With California facing drought conditions in 2021 following a 2020 growing season that was one of the driest and warmest in recent history, University of California (UC) crop water management and irrigation specialists …

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CEQA Requires Assessment of GHG Impacts from Tourism

We Are Paying the Price: 5 Stages: “Tourism’s Faustian Deal”

Post from the past. As the County prepares to allow more winery events and cannabis tourism we have to ask, “who are you working for?” Tourism is only 6.5% of our total economy (2021 Economic Development Report).  Opinion: The Press Democrat recently reported that more people are leaving Sonoma County than moving in. We have …

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