Page 46 - GrapevineMarApr 2022
P. 46
Around The Vineyard
BioDrop’s drone, ready to take off
The Journey From Sustainable
to Regenerative Viticulture
By: Thomas Grandperrin
T their BioDrop service, helps viticulturists we decided to speak to someone who not only has
he writer, co-founder of UAV-IQ, through
done that research but became convinced that the
implement biological pest control in an
efficient and cost-effective manner by using drones transition was the right choice.
to release beneficial insects into vineyards. Meet Caine Thompson, man-
aging director of Robert Hall
Regenerative agriculture has been one of the Winery and sustainability lead
most discussed trends of the past few years. Still, for parent company, O’Neill
the thought of transitioning from a conventionally Vintners & Distillers.
managed vineyard to a regenerative one can be
intimidating. A few of the reasons it is so daunting All of Robert Hall Winery’s
are that the risks of change are perceived to be estate vineyards and the
extremely high, the rewards seem to be vaguely external growers supplying
defined, and the process is not particularly well the winery already follow California Sustainable
known within the industry. However, each of those Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) guidelines.
concerns is addressable with a bit of research, so Transitioning to organic regenerative viticulture
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