Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/333548
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m J u l y - A u g 2 014 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 4 3 The skepticism of hydrologists and geologists, who view the practice of dowsing as simple superstition, has yet to deter landowners from paying esteemed dowsers like Thompson up to $400 per hour for gushing wells that can increase property values dramatically. R e n o w n e d d o w s e r s E l w o o d M e e a n d L a u r i e W o o d , n o w deceased, have passed the torch to dowsers such as Thompson and Marc Mondavi in Napa Valley, who still speak of energies, intuition and sensitivity as the most effective ways to find underground water. Other dowsers claim the ability to find precious metals, lost pets and, presumably, car keys. Dowsing is a form of "divina- tion," finding something through some combination of human intu- ition and supernatural inspiration. At its core, it's a mystical practice with no established scientific basis, but employment of water witches to zero in on the best spots to drill wells is still standard practice on farms across America. DOWSING DEMONSTRATION I met with Thompson and grape- grower Doug Hill in Yountville, Calif., to talk about how dowsing is done. Many dowsers use stainless detailing a property in the Napa hills. Thompson retrieved one of a handful of copper and amethyst pendulums from a modest plas- steel rods or willow wood sticks, but Thompson also claims to be able to find water remotely, using a map. Hill pulled out a large map + Dowsing is a form of "divi- nation," finding something through human intuition and supernatural inspiration. + Many farmers, including winegrowers, use "water witches" to zero in on the best spots to drill wells. + Dowsers use various tools to find water, including stainless steel dowsing rods or pendulums. + Because there is no science behind dowsing, some are skeptical of the practice. AT A GLANCE Rob Thompson demonstrates map dowsing using a pendulum. Photo: Tim Teichgraeber