Hello! First, I’d just like to thank you for reading this. I hope that through these blogs, people learn things about Captain Vineyards that inspire them to take a trip over!
My name is Camille and I am the second eldest granddaughter of Susan and Sal, the owners of Captain Vineyards and the viticulturist and enologist at the farm. Today, I’d like to discuss about two crucial aspects of sustainability at the vineyard: dry farming and our pesticide policy. Dry farming refers to the way we supply our crops with water through a drip-system. This means that when we decide to water the vines (which is a very rare occurrence, especially in the wet season), we send water through pipes that run down each row of the vineyard. This water then drips out of miniscule holes in the pipe, quenching the plants’ thirst.
Camille inspecting the water system
The special thing about dry farming is that there is no programmed ‘schedule’ to watering. We water our crops only when it is absolutely necessary for their survival. Sometimes I feel bad for them, but then I remember that these plants have been trained throughout their lifetimes to need less water than the average grape vine because of our dry-farming practices. Through dry farming, we have conserved countless gallons of water since our founding in 2005, which is crucial in Californian where water is so scarce. When it rains, we collect the rainwater into large basins in order to waste minimal water. For our efforts, we have received countless sustainability awards including the WaterSmart award.
Captain Vineyards Petite Sirah
Another way we protect the vineyard environment is through our thoughtful & sustainable pest control policy. Although the title is self-explanatory, let me be clear that we do not use any sort of conventional pesticides, we select natural oils on our vines if required. This helps conserve wildlife and ensures that the ecosystem around the Moraga area remains safe. What some people don’t realize is that even if pesticides and other chemicals are only sprayed on one property, when it rains the pesticides are rinsed off the crops and flow into nearby waterways, contaminating large areas and having a long-term impact on the region. We believe that selecting natural pest control is better for the people, the animals (like the vineyard’s newest canine edition, Luna), and the plants.
Thank you so much for reading this blog, and I deeply hope you pay a visit to the vineyard to learn even more about our practices and have a truly special experience!