StoneRiver's Amethyst 4 Awards
SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The wine grape growing season in Southern Oregon is relatively dry and irrigation is essential to grow an economically viable crop. Most of the Irrigation water in Bear Creek Valley is directly dependent on our annual rainfall and snow pack. Irrigation water, however, once fairly abundant in Bear Creek Valley, has become increasingly scarce due to growing population demands and frequent drought conditions.
We use drip irrigation in all of our vineyards. Drip irrigation minimizes the use of water by allowing water to drip slowly and directly into the vine’s root zone. We filter our irrigation water through four separate sand filters and a screen filter. This ensures that only the cleanest water possible reaches our vines and helps our dripper-lines and emitters operate at their maximum efficiency. Our irrigation system is designed to operate on gravity which reduces our carbon footprint by eliminating the need for a water pump and the power needed to run it.
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Our approach to sustainable pest management is to combine cultural and biological tools in a way that minimizes economic, environmental and health risks.
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We no longer use harmful herbicides in any of our vineyards.
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We rely to the maximum extent possible on mechanical weed control.
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We put maximum reliance on beneficial insects such as predatory wasps and mites to contain our pest populations.
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We minimize the use of off-farm chemicals and pesticides for pest control and wherever possible replace them with organic solutions.
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We use organic biofungicides where possible to sustainably manage fungal diseases by activating induced systemic resistance.
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We use foliar supplements designed to enhance plant vitality and help our vines quickly recover from environmental and cultural stresses.
