Why Sustainable Practices

Growing grapes sustainably in southern Wisconsin presents unique challenges and opportunities, especially with cold-hardy grape varieties adapted to this climate. While organic grape growing is often considered the gold standard for environmental stewardship, it can be particularly difficult east of the Rocky Mountains due to the region’s wet climate, which promotes fungal diseases, and the prevalence of aggressive weeds.

Challenges of Organic Grape Growing in Southern Wisconsin

In our vineyard, managing weeds and fungal diseases organically is a complex task. The humid summers and spring rains create an environment where fungal diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew thrive. These diseases can severely impact grape quality and yield if not controlled effectively. Organic-approved fungicides are limited in effectiveness, often requiring frequent applications that increase labor and costs. Similarly, weed control is a major challenge; the dense sod and soils here encourage persistent weed growth, and mechanical or hand weeding can be prohibitively labor-intensive and costly.

Pragmatic and Environmentally Conscious Choices

Our approach is rooted in sustainability that balances environmental health, economic viability, and grape quality. We strive to use organic products whenever possible and choose chemical products that are least harmful to the environment when necessary. For example, where organic herbicides or fungicides are ineffective or unavailable, we use carefully selected conventional products at minimal effective rates to maintain vine health without compromising sustainability goals.

Soil and Weed Management

One of our key sustainable practices is maintaining sod cover between the vine rows. This living ground cover prevents soil erosion, enhances soil structure, promotes beneficial microbial activity, and supports local biodiversity. Instead of cultivating the soil beneath the vine rows, which would disrupt soil aggregates and accelerate erosion, we use targeted herbicide applications to manage weeds. This method reduces soil disturbance and preserves soil moisture, which is critical for vine health.

Cultivating soil or frequent mechanical tilling might seem like a natural weed control method, but in our climate and on our soils, it risks significant erosion and loss of organic matter. Furthermore, the labor and machinery costs for repeated weed cultivation are not sustainable long term.

Sustainable Practices in Cold-Hardy Grape Cultivation

Cold-hardy grape varieties like Frontenac, Marquette, and La Crescent are well-suited to the northern climate and reduce risks associated with winter kill, a major threat in southern Wisconsin vineyards. By selecting these varieties, we promote resilience and reduce the need for replanting and associated resource inputs.

Other sustainable vineyard practices we employ include

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Monitoring pest and disease pressures closely allows us to apply treatments only when necessary, reducing pesticide use.

• Cover Crops and Biodiversity: Beyond sod, we encourage beneficial plants and insects that naturally suppress pests and enhance soil health.

• Water Conservation: Our soils have excellent drainage, reducing runoff and erosion. We also practice careful irrigation management to avoid overwatering.

• Nutrient Management: Using soil testing and organic amendments ensures vines receive the right nutrients without excess fertilizer application, protecting groundwater quality.

• Energy and Resource Efficiency: Wherever possible, we use energy-efficient equipment, recycle materials, and minimize waste.

Why This Matters

Sustainability in grape growing isn’t just about following organic rules—it’s about nurturing a living ecosystem that supports healthy vines, preserves soil for future generations, and produces grapes with outstanding quality and character. For our customers, this means wines and fresh grapes made with care for the land, the environment, and the community.

As we continue to innovate and expand, including plans for new cropping systems, a tasting room, and event spaces, sustainable principles remain central to everything we do at the vineyard.