Goats Arrive at Bonny Doon Vineyard's new property

San Juan: The Baptist or Take Me to the Water.
So, we finally closed on the property in San Juan (deep exhalation of breath) and have begun work on clearing brush (the goats have been a great help), and preparing the land for planting. In case, you missed it, we (Bonny Doon Vineyard, that is) recently purchased a 280-acre parcel in San Juan Bautista - approximately 45 minutes southeast of Santa Cruz in mysterious San Benito County. It is our intention to farm the property as a proper Biodynamic® farm, which is to say a promiscuous or mixed plantation, a poly-culture, and to do so in a truly sustainable fashion - not simply offering empty lip-service to a somewhat squishy, subjective term. Apart from seeking to supply much if not most of our own electrical power to the site, we are hoping to significantly minimize external inputs, relying primarily on the use of animals to enhance the fertility of the land and the health of the plantation.

We essay to begin with fruit that is exquisitely balanced and sufficient unto itself, obviating the need for gross manipulation - acidulation, dealcoholization in the winery - all tactics designed to optimize the likelihood of a clear expression of terroir. We plan to plant this vineyard in a thoroughly oldfashioned manner -beginning with hearty and droughttolerant rootstocks, allowing them to establish themselves with minimal irrigation, before field-budding them to drought- and wind-tolerant (costaudor sturdy, the French would say) grape varieties. It is our thought that there is far too much clutter in our lives and in our vineyards these days - too much impedimenta; for this reason (and others) we are profoundly drawn to the idea of head-trained vines, no wires, no posts - a simple, spare, terroirscape. Very low-yielding vines and therefore a fiscally challenged proposition, but the wines will be intense and eloquent, with luck, a strong amplifier of the sites unique character.

To learn more about our adventures...and misadventures, visit us at www.bonnydoonvineyard.com.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Bonny Doon Vineyard
• Randall Grahm
• Goat Herder
• San Juan Bautista
• Estate Vineyard
• Wine

[gokory]

lots of goats!!!!! man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!