It was 2012 and Mark was staying in the house on our vineyard. He noticed a small bird on the ground foraging for food while someone in a hazmat suit sprayed fungicide on the nearby vines. As he witnessed this incongruent scene, a thought began to take root. One that wouldn't let go.
That summer he toured the vineyards of Bordeaux and was reminded of that day while observing flocks of birds in their chemical-free environments. As he tasted through the famed, select estate wines, he noted their subtle nuance of depth and definitive sense of place. Upon returning to his vineyard in Alexander Valley, he became determined to capture this expression of regenerative, clean farming in his own wines. But it would take time and commitment. Mark’s challenges, to name a few, included; a lack of soil coverage, vines devoid of their natural defenses and benefits, and most glaring, was the absence of birdsong and sounds of insects and animals.
He knew this image was lacking. He knew he must make a change and be a part of the solution instead of a part of the problem. This began our journey to Biodynamic farming at Eco Terreno Wines & Vineyards. It was an undertaking of immense proportions, requiring him to dispel the myths of industrial farming so prevalent in the wine industry. However, never shy of a challenge, Mark and his team have become one of the few leading Biodynamic and organic certified vineyards in the US.
