Organic News Roundup: Developments at Bedrock, Monte Rosso, Carol Shelton and Arborbook by Cooper Mountain

I've been on the road a lot for Slow Wine Guide USA 2023, as we are coming down to the wire for our 2023 guide deadline–copy to be completed by the end of August. (The 2023 book will be out in the winter in time for the annual five city Slow Wine Tour with Italian and U.S. wineries.) And as I visit wineries in the North Coast, I hear things. 

BEDROCK CERTIFYING

A trip to Bedrock's lovely tasting room in downtown Santa Rosa revealed that the illustrious vintner sourcing from so many historic vineyards is now going to get certified organic at its 100+ acre Bedrock estate in Sonoma Valley. 

Said Joel Peterson,"we've farmed organically for a long time, and we finally decided to get credit for it." 

The process of becoming certified takes three years and is still underway.

Vineyard manager Brenae Royal at Monte Rosso

MONTE ROSSO GOING ORGANIC

On a trip up to a winery neighboring Gallo's showpiece old vine Zinfandel vineyard, Monte Rosso, on Moon Mountain, I heard from a neighbor that Gallo was going organic on the estate. It wasn't clear yet if the plan included farming practices only or certification, too, but it's good news at any rate. 

CAROL SHELTON ADDS ORGANIC LABELING

In Santa Rosa, after many years of telling consumers her Wild Thing wines from the Cox vineyard were almost all organic, sourcing issues and labeling efforts have now resulted in Carol Shelton being able to label her Wild Things "Ingredients: Organic Grapes" on the back label. That means the grapes are 100 percent from certified organic vines. 

OREGON BIODYNAMIC EXPANDS

And in Oregon, Barbara Gross has been hard at work, transitioning Cooper Mountain Vineyards' latest acquisition, Arborbrook (now named "Arborbrook by Cooper Mountain Vineyards") off of chemical sprays under "sustainable" certifications and on the fast path to organic and biodynamic farming and certification. There are 15 acres of planted vines. Said Gross, "I can already see, in less than a year now, how the vines are getting better." 

She has also lovingly restored the walnut farm barn to a beautiful tasting room that reflects its agricultural roots.