Commitment to Land…

“If you take care of the land, and your people, you might just make it as a farmer.”

– Phillip Copeland Schmidt

Our family has been farming in the shadow of these mountains for four generations. There’s something uniquely fulfilling in working the same ground as our uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. It would be easy to take this humble life for granted, but we consider our role as growers to be more than just winegrape production. We have an obligation to operate in a way that ensures the next generation inherits a world worthy of their potential.

We have always tried to make decisions with sustainability in mind, but we haven’t had the opportunity to qualify them...until now. When the opportunity arose to apply for a third-party audited certification through RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing, we knew had to step up and find out if the practices we were employing were actually making a difference. 

With this, we now have a body of science-based knowledge guiding and evaluating us in every aspect of our business. RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing takes a holistic approach to farm management through the adoption of over 100 sustainability practices in six areas. Obtaining this certification not only validates our efforts as growers, but reminds us of how fortunate we are to be surrounded and supported by an incredible team that is committed to making the right decisions for our land, our planet, and our customers.

Continuing our nearly 100 year family legacy brings with it enormous responsibility, but also a sense of incredible pride. The land we steward, the grapes we grow, the wine we make- it’s an extension of our heritage- sharing that with others is what gives us purpose. 

We claim that Yakima Valley is the perfect place to grow winegrapes, because it is. And we hope to keep it that way for all the generations yet to come.

Certifications

These certification seals signify a third-party audited commitment to rigorous, scientifically sound sustainable winegrowing. 

Beginning with the 2020 vintage, our winemaking partners who use fruit from our certified vineyards can begin to note the RULES certification on their wine labeling. The 2022 vintage and later is also eligible to use the "Sustainable WA” logo. To learn more about this, please contact Patrick or Ella.