harvest reports
Soil Cuisine
To My Friends:
The primary job of compost is soil vitality, not soil fertility. One tablespoon of compost contains tens of millions of microorganisms and thousands of different types. Compost facilitates a vines bonding with nature. What I mean is that a vine interacts with its soil environment through a living barrier-the soil microorganism. This is very cool when you really think about it.
Compost is synonymous with recycling. ALL organic material on our ranch, including wine (grape solids) waste is mixed with cow manure and composted/recycled every year. It takes one year with our method to make top quality compost. It is spread after harvest at 2-4 tons per acre. In the first photo, Lalo is loading compost into our spreader for distribution all over our property, not just the vineyards.
Compost promotes uniqueness. Think of soil microorganisms as our own personal chefs. They prepare a one of a kind meal of nutrients and minerals indigenous in our soil and serves them up in a form the plant loves. Since this is a special meal, it promotes flavors and wine textures authentic only to this property. Compost is a key ingredient in individualizing wines.
Compost spreading
Soil erosion prevented by spreading straw
Benziger Family Vineyards
Sonoma Mountain, October 22, 2001