Viticulture

<p class="bold allcaps">SANTA ROSA Sustainable growing workshop Dec. 13</p> <p>A Code of Sustainable Winegrowing workshop on ecosystem management will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center, 5007 Fulton Road.</p><p>Ann Thrupp, managing director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, will give an overview of ecosystem management in vineyards.</p><p>Other speakers will cover topics including critical habitat for salmon, watershed management and enhancing water quality and wildlife habitats in vineyards.</p><p>Michael Costello of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo will discuss an ecosystem approach to pest management including supporting mite and insect predators. Kara Heckert of the Natural Resource Conservation Service will talk about government funding programs for conservation work.</p><p>To make a reservation, call 206-0603 or e-mail ipm@scgga.org.</p><h3>SONOMA Cline Cellars goes all-solar</h3> <p>Cline Cellars is the latest North Coast winery to go solar.</p><p>Cline Cellars' new solar electric system, designed and built by SolarCraft Services Inc. of Novato, will provide 100 percent of the winery's annual energy needs.</p><p>The power is produced by 2,000 solar panels installed on the roof of the winery's warehouse and fermentation buildings. The 35,000 square feet of high-capacity solar panels will generate roughly 411 kilowatts, providing all of the energy that the 150,000 case winery uses in a year.</p><h3>ST. HELENA Trade group honors Spring Mountain</h3> <p>Spring Mountain Vineyard, a showplace winery and vineyards, has received the 2006 "Best of Napa Valley Tourism Award" from a trade group called the Global Network of Great Wine Capitals.</p><p>A tour of Spring Mountain Vineyards is more than a walk among stainless steel tanks. The tour includes the winery and its extensive wine caves, an antique horse barn, vineyards, exotic gardens and, finally, Miravalle, an elegant 1885 Victorian house where guests are guided through an evaluation of the estate's wines. Miravalle was used as the home in the television series "Falcon Crest."</p><p>The Global Network of Great Wine Capitals embraces international wine regions like Bordeaux, Porto, Cape Town, Bilbao-Rioja, Florence and Mendoza. The group works to encourage international winery tourism, as well as economic, academic and cultural exchanges between the famous capitals of wine.</p><p>Further information about tours of Spring Mountain Vineyards is available by calling 967-4637.</p><h3>ANDERSON VALLEY Handley Estate gets organic certification</h3> <p>Handley Estate Vineyard has received organic certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers.</p><p>Milla Handley, owner-winemaker of Handley Cellars Winery in Philo, said the organically-farmed grapes will go into her 2005 vintages. The 30-acre organic vineyard includes chardonnay, pinot noir and gewurztraminer grape varietals.</p><p>Handley said the organic certification is a declaration to her consumers, employees and neighbors that she is committed to farming responsibly.</p><p>- Tim Tesconi</p>