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Harvest 2009 Update.
2009 is proving to be a challenging year in the vineyard so far. Early and heavy rains in October are playing havoc with the harvest this year. Puma Springs Vineyards gains Demeter Biodynamic® and USDA Organic certification.
This summer after a three year process Puma Springs Vineyards finally gained the coveted Demeter Biodynamic® and USDA certification for the grapes grown at the farm. Benziger 2006 Puma Springs Vineyards Cabernet SOLD OUT.
After winning a Gold Medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair the Benziger Family Winery the 2006 vintage of the Puma Springs Cabernet quickly sold out. The wine was a 700 case limited production bottling available only at the Benziger Family Winery tasting room in Glen Ellen and on-line Check out our new Weather Report.
With weather reported directly from our vineyard and updated several times a day. News Archive
The Eagles have landed.
National Scientists visit to learn about Biodynamics.
At the end of January Puma Springs Vineyards hosted a visit from the Union of Concerned Scientists (http://www.ucsusa.org/). The USC were in San Francisco for a meeting of their National Advisory Board which focused on food, agriculture and the environment. The purpose of the visit was to learn about the newer biodynamic farming techniques being used in California vineyards and the benefits to both the wine and the environment.The visitors from UCS were excited to take advantage of being in San Francisco to feature the unique opportunity to tour a biodynamic vineyard in Sonoma. NAB members Tony Crabb and Barbara Grasseschi graciously invited those who could attend to their vineyard to learn about the techniques they utilize for biodynamic farming.
The afternoon began with a presentation by Mike Benziger of the local Benziger Family Winery www.benziger.com who described his transition from conventional to biodynamic farming and the changes he discovered in the resulting soil, grapes, and wine.
Tony and Barbara followed with a presentation of the specific techniques they had begun to implement on their own land following Mike's advice and example. The group was then led out onto the property for a tour of the land to see how these techniques are enacted in practice. There were ample questions throughout the day, ranging from queries about strategies for limiting pests to waste management. The following day the group continued with their regular meeting with discussions on the new policy landscape on the international level, on the California state level, relative to the Food and Environment program respectively. Mardi Mellon gave a brief overview of the principles that drive UCS's work on food issues and introduced guest speaker Marion Nestle who presented food politics from a food systems approach, advocating that there is a connection between agriculture, food, nutrition, and public health. After lunch, guest speaker Michael Pollan followed these themes by leading a discussion on the state of the food movement, its growing popularity, and where he sees its future. Mardi then presented what she saw as the new directions for agriculture, as well as agriculture's role in the problem of and solutions for climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices. http://www.ucsusa.org/
Puma Springs Vineyards hosts the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, May 2008 Organic Grape Grower meeting.
The Sheep Are Back!!!!
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