Certification underlines Troon’s commitment to sustainability in all forms and belief that grapes from healthy soil make exceptional wines
APPLEGATE VALLEY, Ore. (March 14, 2023)—Southern Oregon’s Troon Vineyard is the second vineyard in the world — and fourth farm overall — to receive the Regenerative Organic Alliance’s Regenerative Organic Certified Gold designation. It will also be the first winery to release wines with the Regenerative Organic Certified Gold label on it.
The Regenerative Organic Certified program is a comprehensive agriculture certification that requires farms to increase soil health, provide excellent working conditions for employees and treat animals in fair and humane ways. Growers must also maintain organic certification.
“Since Denise and I have been the stewards of Troon Vineyard, we have focused on returning to farming the way our ancestors farmed,” said Proprietor Dr. Bryan White. “As an organization, we strive to develop an environment where everything — plants, microorganisms, animals and humans — can thrive equitably. The Regenerative Organic Certified Gold certification confirms we are on the right path.”
Troon began its Regenerative Organic Certified journey at the silver level. But once brands are certified, they don’t get to rest on their laurels, said General Manager Craig Camp. “Part of the idea behind the Regenerative Organic Certified program is that you’re constantly improving. They expect you progress to silver and gold.”
Since becoming the second vineyard globally to achieve the ROC certification in 2021, Troon has built on the foundation it established when it became Demeter Biodynamic certified in 2020 and seen continued improvements in soil organic matter, plant health and must chemistry. The team continues to monitor and report improvements in soil health, including how much carbon it is sequestering in the soil. Trapping carbon is a major benefit to the focus on soil quality, along with better water retention and increased microbial activity. It is also a critical step in the fight against climate change.
In February, Troon became the world’s first farm to receive the Equitable Food Initiative’s ERGO Certification, which is designed to ensure fair and safe conditions for workers on smaller farms. The certification showed significant progress on the worker rights leg of the Regenerative Organic Certified stool and resulted in the elevation to the Gold level.
This milestone is extremely meaningful to Camp. “Like our Biodynamic certification, this achievement was a complete team effort, with everyone focused on not only our mission to constantly improve our wines and produce, but to convince other farmers that the results are worth the effort. Regenerative agriculture is not only good for the earth but is a sustainable business model. The ROC slogan is ‘Farm like the world depends on it.’ It does and we do.”
The Regenerative Organic Certified Gold label will appear on all 2021 and 2022 vintage wines. Releases of these wines will begin in the coming weeks and will include Troon’s Piquette! sparkling wine, Kubli Bench Rosé, Kubli Bench Amber and Glou Glou Grenache.
California’s Tablas Creek Vineyard was the first winery to become Regenerative Organic Certified Gold. The other two brands are Abundant Harvest Organics and Guayakí Latin America S.A.
About Troon Vineyard
Troon Vineyard is a certified Biodynamic and Gold Regenerative Organic Certified diversified farm in Southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley. The company’s mission is to naturally craft wines designed to bring pleasure to your life and reflect the terroir of where they are grown. Troon’s exclusive focus is on biodynamically grown grapes from France’s Rhône Valley and Southern France. The winemaking team works with twenty of these varieties to craft still and sparkling wines using minimal intervention practices.
