Healthy Soil, Healthy Vines, Healthy People
Healthy Soil, Healthy Vines, Healthy People
Sustainable farming practices that respect the environment, soil, plants and people are another expression of WillaKenzie Estate’s commitment to genuine quality. To promote the health of our soil, we use composts and cover crops, and encourage beneficial organisms such as earthworms and fungi. To maintain the health of our vines, we use organic fertilizers and fungicides rather than synthetic chemicals.
Sustainable viticulture is extremely labor intensive – each of the more than 150,000 vines on the estate receives hands-on attention an average of 24 times annually from our dedicated vineyard crew, whose members are employed year round (with full benefits). Sustainability of our ecosystem involves all the flora and fauna, including the people; those who farm the grapes, those who make the wine, those who bring it to market and consumers who enjoy drinking it.
Less than a quarter of the 420 acre Estate is planted to grapes. To preserve the biodiversity of our ecosystem, we have many stands of mature, native trees, native shrubs along the creeks and acres of open pasture where cattle graze.
The vineyards at WillaKenzie Estates are certified by both L.I.V.E. and Salmon-Safe for sustainable viticulture. L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) is an Oregon based nonprofit, providing education and certification for vineyards using international standards of sustainable viticulture practices in wine grape production. These standards of practice come from a vision of the vineyard as a whole system, and promote biological diversity, natural fertility and ecosystem stability through responsible land stewardship. L.I.V.E. also partners with Salmon-Safe to restore and maintain healthy watersheds.
Learn more about our wines, our philosophy and passion for Pinot.