Our farming in the NEW YORK TIMES

“To Lauren and Alex Benward, sixth-generation owners of the Beltane Ranch vineyard in Glen Ellen, Calif., the word “sustainability” does not adequately convey the agricultural measures that they and many of their fellow vineyard owners have adopted in recent years. Steering clear of pesticides and industrial tillage is a no-brainer. They also use roving chickens to forage for pests, maximize soil fertility by planting cover crops like ryegrass and employ a herd of sheep — referred to as “woolly weeders” — to help fertilize the fields. Even the vineyard’s wine shipments reflect land stewardship: Bottles — recycled, with natural corks — are transported with carbon-neutral shipping.”

“This holistic approach to land management is called regenerative agriculture. It eschews conventional farming techniques and taps into composting, pollinator habitat restoration and other measures to encourage nutrient-dense soil. These practices also curb skyrocketing carbon emissions by coaxing carbon from the atmosphere and into plant roots, a process known as carbon sequestration. Nitrogen, supplied by cover crops, helps the process.

To get a peek of what life is like at a small, all-hands-on-deck working vineyard, book a stay at Beltane Ranch’s cozy six-room inn. You’ll get up close and personal with the weed-eating sheep (not too close, or the guard dog will treat you as a predator), pop over to the retro camper that serves as the chicken coop and hop in a four-wheel drive to check out the donkeys, longhorn cattle and horses whose eating habits function to reduce the weeds that fuel fires. The bucolic setting also includes a horseshoe pit, a preserved 19th-century “roadhouse” festooned in ivy, and slightly wayward flower gardens and various chill-out areas ideal for drinking the estate’s crisp sauvignon blanc. A stay comes with a ranch-sourced breakfast served under ancient oak trees. And, yes, the scraps are used for chicken feed and compost.”

Regenerative Winegrowing

Our vineyard was first planted to grapevines in 1879 by Captain John Hamilton Drummond. Building upon the knowledge and innovations of the 19th and 20th century stewards, we’re committed to achieving quality and consistency in our estate wines by best caring for the vines, soil and ecosystem. Regenerative winegrowing at Beltane Ranch means hands on hard work, listening, learning and responsible practices including cover cropping with rotational grazing for weed control and fertilization, being present, working the vineyard by hand and farming without herbicides or tilling. Our vineyard is weeded by Wally the Wooly Weeder and his flock.

Free Range Chickens

Beltane Ranch is home to a flock of heritage breed laying hens. The chickens forage throughout the day, providing pest control, fertilization and cultivation while, enjoyed a varied diet. The lay eggs in their retrofitted, recycled, mobile coop, which are collected each day for our culinary programs. This system is especially beneficial to our olive farming as they are rotated through the orchard improving the growing conditions and encouraging biodiversity.

Pollinators including Honey Bees

Many pollinators make their home at Beltane Ranch. We’ve transferred naturally swarming bees from the property to hives to support and expand their population and produce honey.  Beekeeper Joy Wesley tends to the hives and pollinator habitats are supported throughout the property.