Big Wine

Winery Event Ordinance Returns Yet Again to Sonoma Board of Supervisors

As many readers may recall, in December 2014 in response to community outcry, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to prepare options for updating policy on regulating winery events, particularly in the over-concentrated wine areas of Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Westside Road, either as a zoning amendment or local event guidelines. Finally, after …

Winery Event Ordinance Returns Yet Again to Sonoma Board of Supervisors Read More »

Almost a third of world’s tree species face extinction: Report | Climate Change News | Al Jazeera

Almost a third of world’s tree species face extinction: Report | Climate Change News | Al Jazeera Conservation group says the number of threatened tree species is double the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles combined. General view of a tract of the Amazon jungle which burns as it is cleared by loggers …

Almost a third of world’s tree species face extinction: Report | Climate Change News | Al Jazeera Read More »

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 …

When in Drought, California Dry-farming by The Guardian Read More »

After The Grapes Are Gone by David Keller,

Newly planted vineyards (Bodega Highway) are being ripped out due to no water. Time to dry farm grapes or leave…..  After the grapes are gone By DAVID KELLER September 2015 PD Article Link Our succession of boom crops in Sonoma County provides an interesting history — and a cautionary tale. The county’s world-class wine grapes …

After The Grapes Are Gone by David Keller, Read More »