Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/670021
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m M a y - J u n e 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 7 5 In 2014, CCOF reported a total of 10,766 acres of certified organic wine grapes. The majority of that acre- age is located in Mendocino County and fuels Fetzer's organic brand portfolio, including Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon, which retails for $14. By harvest time next year, Bronco will control more than one-third of the state's CCOF vineyards and will have the resources to produce in excess of 400,000 cases of wine made from organic grapes. INVESTING IN SUSTAINABILITY The call to action for water conservation was a key message in Franzia's keynote to the state's growers, and the flood-irrigated almond orchards that line the road to the company's winery in Ceres serve as a con- stant reminder of the need to conserve. Franzia, who recently invested $2 million in a groundwater recharg- ing project on South Tracy Lake, is among the early adopters heeding the state's prescription for long-term water conservation efforts. "It takes initiative for landowners to front the capital costs involved in projects of this scale," says attorney Jennifer Spaletta, who consulted on the project. "The incentives are there for groundwater management, and Bronco has faith that, over time, the project will pay off." In 2011, the North San Joaquin Water Conserva- tion District received a federal grant of $300,000, with Bronco picking up the tab for the additional costs of an environmental study and building a pump station to capture unused water from the Mokelumne River. As water becomes available under the district's per- mit, 3,000 to 4,000 acre-feet will be diverted to South Tracy Lake, west of Woodbridge, to recharge ground- water and drip irrigate 1,300 acres of nearby vineyards. A planned second phase has the potential to irrigate another 5,700 acres. According to Spaletta, the project will only be used when water is available, which is esti- mated to be 50% to 60% of the time. In addition to easing demands on groundwater, there are environmental benefits: a state-of-the-art fish screen that protects fish from being trapped by the diversion, and the creation of a new riparian habitat around South Tracy Lake. "Everyone should be doing this," says Fran- zia, who cited that flood irrigation is still being used on about 60% of California's 7.54 million irrigated acres. With South Tracy Lake as a model for best practices, he has several new groundwater recharging projects on the drawing board. EDUCATION AS A DRIVER OF CHANGE Just as education is speeding consumer adoption of organics, it also has been key to the adoption of moder- ate wine consumption as part of the Mediterranean diet. In his Unified address, Franzia credited the efforts of erudite policy advisor John DeLuca, who became pres- ident and CEO of the Wine Institute in 1975. DeLuca introduced the work of the husband-and-wife team, Carol and Malcom McConnell, to the board in 1986. In 1987, the Wine Institute provided funding and research assistance that put their book, "The Mediterranean Diet: Wine, Pasta, Olive Oil and a Long, Healthy Life," on the map. "He had the support of the board and the chairman [Michael Mondavi] at that pivotal time," says Franzia, who served as chairman of the Wine Institute in 1981 and 1982 and as a board member for several years dur- ing DeLuca's 28-year tenure. DeLuca then spent the next seven years educat- ing the press about the health benefits of moderate wine consumption. In 1991, CBS TV broadcast a "60 Minutes" program titled "The French Paradox," which included interviews with leading international alcohol + A focus on organic grapes and sustainable practices is at the forefront of Bronco Wine Company's efforts. + Education is key to consumer adoption of organics and the health benefits of regular, moderate wine consumption. + Continued employee and partner education is also a focus. + Fred Franzia foresees the California wine industry will be selling in excess of 1 billion cases of table wine by 2040. AT A GLANCE