Certified Organic Vineyards Jackson Family Wines Joins Napa’s Organic Wave By PAM STRAYER | Contributing Writer
J
ackson Family Wines added a sigLawrence Family’s Demeine Estates (633 was vineyard manager and organic nificant new milestone in fall 2023: It planted acres) and Yount Mill Vinefarming veteran Rafael Jimenez who has announced certification for 15 Napa yards (557 planted acres). been head grower at Jackson’s Freemark vineyards as organic, according to the Abbey in Oakville for five years. Certified California Organic Farmers Currently, just under 14% of Napa vines (CCOF), a USDA approved organic cerare certified organic. The two brought in compost (typical in tifier. Jackson Family Wines reported the organic viticulture) to increase organic total acreage planted to vine is 480 acres. “I firmly believe agriculture should lead matter in the solid and adopted no till the way in redefining our relationship farming. They also had sheep graze in That makes it the third largest organic with the planet as a species,” said Chris- the spring for weed control. vineyard owner in Napa behind the topher Carpenter, winemaker at Jackson Family Wines who works with their Carpenter said the beauty of organic high-end Napa brands. “This organic vineyards lies under the vines. certification in Napa represents the initial step as we progress toward regener- “One of the factors of organic you’ll ative organic certification and continue learn to live with is it’s not the prettiest to foster harmony between the natural thing in the world [i.e. there’s weeds on world and the agricultural world.” the vineyard floor],” he said in a YouTube video. “But if you were to open A long-standing board member and up these soils and look at what’s going former chair of Slow Food USA, who on in the soil health, that’s beauty unto also started the Napa chapter, Carpenter itself. The soils are as healthy as they’ve makes the wines for four of Jackson’s ever been. And what we also ultimately Napa brands (Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota do is just incorporate these weeds back and Mt. Brave). into the soil to raise the nitrogen level and get ready for next year’s early ripenOrganic vineyard acreage is increasing throughout Carpenter’s partner in the conversion ing,” he said. California and Oregon (photo by Julie Johnson.) His remarks were captured in a 2023 video tour of the 27-acre Wurtele vineyard in the Spring Mountain AVA.
Top Mountain Sites
Mountain vineyard sites are responsible for 554 of the certified acres, the type of terroir founder Jess Jackson famously preferred.
1. Potelle, Mount Veeder AVA | 202 acres 2. Keyes, Howell Mountain AVA | 109 acres 3. Veeder, Mount Veeder AVA | 61 acres Christopher Carpenter, winemaker at Jackson Family Wines, which recently announced certification for 15 Napa vineyards as organic, says the beauty of organic vineyards lies under the vines (photo courtesy Jackson Family Wines.)
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Grape & Wine Magazine
January 2024
4. La Jota, Howell Mountain AVA | 41 acres