Page 45 - GrapevineMarApr 2022

Around The Vineyard

ronment and our own health. We shouldn’t have point, it’s amazing how resilient the vineyard is
a bottom line that is only about making money; regarding weather fluctuations and fires. “We’re
sometimes you make money by doing a bit of extra on a natural plateau. So we only feel the effect of a
work.” fire once it gets very close to us as there’s nowhere
for the smoke to accumulate.”
Wildridge Winery,
Seattle, Washington His biggest problems stem from weeds. “The same
biodynamic principles that make the grapes happy
Founded in 1988, Wilridge, a small family vine- also make the weeds really happy.”
yard, orchard, winery and distillery, has the distinc-
tion of being the oldest winery in Seattle. In 2007, In his estimation, the reason there aren’t more
they established their organic and Detmer Certified organic vineyards in Washington is that the farm-
Biodynamic vineyard in the Naches Heights AVA ers rely on Roundup due to its ease and cost-effi-
near Yakima, Washington. In addition to applying ciency.”You can spend $200 on Roundup and do
biodynamic principles, their other green practices your whole place and be done for the year. And
include using solar power and refillable bottles. I’m spending a couple of thousand dollars every
Then in 2017, they launched their Detmer Certified two weeks having the vineyard hand weeded,”
Biodynamic distillery to utilize the product from Beveridge said.
their grape skins to make grappa.
Paul Beveridge, Wilridge Vintner and Distiller, chose As these wineries prepare for the 2022 harvest,
Naches Heights and its high elevation with climate they will continue to monitor for signs of both wild-
change in mind. “We get long hot summers with no fires and temperature fluctuations. In particular,
rain at harvest. Also, we don’t get a lot of disease Jarreau points to ongoing research on the impacts
pressure,” he said. of smoke on grapes in the U.S. and Australia that
she believes could be beneficial for growers on the
According to Beveridge, from the vineyard stand- West Coast.

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