Ken Hart has over 25 years experience in the agriculture business.  He helped plant Pepper Bridge Vineyard in 1991 and Seven Hills (east) in 1997.  Ken is also the manager of the Appellation Management Group.

By Ken Hart - Healthy Inputs to a Vineyard Assure Healthy Wine.  Ever since the inception of our estate vineyards, Frenchtown and Double River Ranch, every effort has been made to stay the course of "Sustainable Viticulture".

This terminology does apply to the farming techniques of Organic, Biodynamic, Biological, Radionics and also conventional methods. It's meaning, regardless of your method of farming, is to execute the three major ideas leading to the concept of sustainable farming.

1. To make only a positive impact on our ecosystem, by evaluating soil and plant inputs as to their affect on microbiology found in the soil. It is the population and health of these soil organisms that directly affect the air we breathe and the water we drink. These tiny creatures in the soil not only determine the availability of nutrients and micro nutrients needed for the growth of a healthy grape plant but also assure human health via the consumption of the wine produced from the plants fruit.

2. While executing our farming methodologies (vineyard or winery) we act responsibly toward the sensitivities of our neighbors, rural and community alike. It is here that we live with our families beside each of our employees and their families.

3. It may come last on the list but it is equally as important, there must be economic profit, there must be a means to sustain the inputs.

We are committed to raising quality fruit through environmentally sound farming practices.

Visit Vinea for more information on sustainable farming.