The weekend kicks off with an Eco-Tour of Husch and a Deep Dive Into Farming for the Future in AV
Philo, California – March 27, 2025 — In Anderson Valley, we are proud of our wines and celebrate Pinot Noir annually at our renowned PinotFest Weekend, but we are even more proud of how our grapes are grown and how we respect that land upon which they grow.
On Friday, May 16, 2025, 2:00-4:00 PM, grab a glass and meet some of the leading vintners and vineyard managers from across the Valley at Husch Vineyards for a tour combining several stops to explore regenerative, fish farming and sustainable vineyard management. Husch vintner Zac Robinson will kick off the tour by discussing how the winery has eliminated discing and spraying of insecticides, even parking its spray rig in 2008 where it still rests, never moving.
Check out our latest blog for more info on Zac’s fish-friendly approach and how Husch still cultivates fruit from healthy vines planted as far back as 1968, when the winery practiced organic farming long before it was a “thing.”
At Pennyroyal Farm, Sarah Cahn Bennett raises goats for her busy cheesemaking operation but, in the vineyard, every vine is suckered by sheep for undervine management. In the mold of an old-time American farm, Bennett strives to improve soil health and carbon sequestration for a true regenerative, fish-friendly 23-acre vineyard.
At Lichen Estate, vintner Doug Stewart farms organically with a special meter-by-meter row spacing that conserves water, meaning 4,000 vines are planted per acre and 2.6 more linear feet of wire than a standard 8-foot row. Each approach uses the same amount of water for frost protection, a vital factor when an offsite water pond is your source.
At Mariah Vineyards on the Mendocino Ridge, owners Dan and Vicki Dooling have been tending the land for over 40 years and have worked to make a sustainable farm. Daughter Nicole and husband Michael helped transform Nicole’s parents’ mountain top vineyard in Mendocino into the first ever Savory Institute Global Land To Market verified regenerative vineyard in the world. They use livestock to graze the vineyard (cycle cover crop nutrients back into the soil and mow grass), plus dry-farming and 100% no-till, permanent covercrop & covercrop biodiversity for ecosystem health.
Joining us on the tour will be Linda MacElwee from, Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, who specializes in California native plants and has designed and implemented numerous riparian re-vegetation projects, helping many of our vineyards improve soil health and re-vegetative projects.
Expect a deep dive into regenerative farming and methods that include no-till, utilizing livestock, nitrogen strategy, chemical use, bees, undervine control, eco-balance, water conservation and more, all while sampling representative Pinot Noirs from the vineyards represented at the tour.
Pinot Fest Schedule of Events:
Thursday, May 15
5:00 PM Welcome Reception at Goldeneye Wine
Friday, May 16
8:30 -11:30 AM Morning Vineyard Seminar & Demonstrations at Boonville Fairgrounds
2:00 – 4:00 PM Eco-Tour at Husch Vineyard
5:00 – 8:00 PM Sunset BBQ at Lula Cellars
Saturday, May 17
10:00- 1:00 PM VIP Bubble Lounge, Hosted by Roederer Collection of Wine
11:00 -3:00 PM Grand Tasting at Scharffenberger Cellars
Sunday, May 18
11:00 -5:00 PM Winery Open House Events
About the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association
The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) was founded in 1983 – the same year as the appellation. Made up of 24 vineyard, 68 winery and 58 associate members, the nonprofit organization operates with the goal of supporting the region’s premier grape growers and wineries, as well as promoting the region’s distinguished wines. In addition to acting as a resource for its members, the association aims to better its community by donating funds yearly to local nonprofit organizations.
