Sustainable Vineyard

Another SLO treasure discovered yesterday. KCBX, our local NPR gem, hosted an inspiring interview with Jean Pierre Wolff, the owner of Wolff Vineyards, located in Edna Valley outside San Luis Obispo. His work in sustainable agriculture is being featured in two documentaries, and he has been asked by UC Davis to help them develop a program for sustainable vineyards.

You can listen to the podcast, if you are intrigued by the summary below.

The vineyards contain Steel-head trout habitat. When Wolff purchased the property in 1999, he knew he wanted to preserve that. A major project has now been undertaken to reduce creek erosion, retrace original curves, provide resting pools for the fish, while at the same time conveniently allowing more water to seep into the aquifer.

Wolff vineyards, were planted with native grasses that might seem weedlike, but this was deliberate. Wolff is not interested in the golf course look, but in reducing erosion. He also releases beneficial insects and for fun retains a falconer for discouraging European Starlings.

A Pacific pond turtle refuge has been established on the property, currently providing habitat for twenty-seven orphaned turtles. His property also is inhabited by Red-legged frogs, which he enjoys where other vintners might be dismayed. He knows they are like the canary in the coal mine, since their presence demonstrates the health of the environment at Wolff.

When asked why he has undertaken all of this, he says that he believes in the 3Es of Sustainability: Economics, Environment, and Social Equity - down to the treatment of farm workers. Half the vineyard is dry. But the other half is aquifer dependent; thus the work on the health of the aquifer also aids the vineyard. If he prevents erosion of creeks by preventing sedimentation, the creek will not drive the aquifer deeper underground making the water less accessible to the vineyards.

Wolff Vineyards, a local business worth promoting, and maybe someday the competition will take note too.