Kunde Family Estate: Green Team
Passionate About Preservation for the Next Generation
Watch our video on Viticultural Practices and Cover Crops
Sustainable Winegrowing at Kunde Family Estate
Family owned and operated for five generations, Kunde Family Estate
produces ultra-premium, 100% estate-grown wines in Northern California's renowned
Sonoma Valley. The family is committed to the creation of wines that are
unique to their land, while farmed with an ethical and sustainable pedigree.
The Kunde family is committed to continue this journey, through all the generations,
to sustainable stewardship of their venerable estate.
The 1,850 Estate: 700 Acres of Vineyards; Five
Distinct Ecosystems
The Kunde Estate is comprised of 1,850 contiguous acres with
700 acres planted to twenty different varieties of winegrapes.
The main ranches, Wildwood and Kinneybrook, stretch for two
miles along scenic Sonoma Highway, rising 1,400 feet from
the valley floor, across the rolling hills and into the Mayacamas
Mountain range. With less than 40% of the estate planted
to vineyards, the family oversees the stewardship of five
distinct ecosystems on the ranches: riparian, aquatic, oak
woodlands, native grasslands and chaparral, with these environments
working in harmony with their sustainable winegrowing practices.
Why Sustainable?
Sustainable winegrowing is the balance of economic, environmental
and social practices. Unlike other farming practices,
sustainable winegrowing is all encompassing in its approach,
with concern for all surrounding environments and areas – not
just with the crop that is grown. Every department—from
vineyard management to winemaking to administration to
hospitality—is responsible for maintaining and
introducing new conservation programs. In short, it is
an ever-evolving commitment to improve environmental
practices throughout all winery operations. The
end result is that each element ultimately plays a vital
role in the integrity and quality of Kunde Family Estate wines.
Sustainable Winegrowing Practices: Benefiting
Nature Makes Better Wine
Creek restoration, erosion control, cover crops, natural
predation, energy and water conservation, pollution prevention,
waste reduction measures, and public education are just some
of the practices integrated into the estate’s daily
routine.
For example, cover crops are employed to reduce energy usage, water conservation, control erosion, increase soil fertility, and create habitats for beneficial insects. Vegetation management and the placement of nesting boxes for owls and other raptors throughout the vineyards support a natural, pest free environment. These approaches to winegrowing create a naturally healthy environment which results in well-balanced vines and wines.
Green Business Certification
Since 2005, the San Francisco Bay Area Green Business Program
has recognized the family’s commitment to preserving
the land for future generations by awarding Kunde Family
Estate with their Green Business Program Certification (the
highest level). In 2008 Kunde Family Estate received
the GEELA Award, the Governor's Environmental and Economic
Leadership Award for their sustainable practices and
facilities, which is the state of California's highest
environmental honor.
Eco-Tours for Hiking and Wine Enthusiasts
Designed for hiking and wine enthusiasts, Kunde Family Estate offers
Eco-Hiking Tours to enhance public education and awareness
of sustainable winegrowing practices. Conducted by 4th
generation winegrower, Jeff Kunde, and Sonoma Valley
docent, Bill Myers, the hikes are moderately strenuous
and take guests from the Sonoma Valley floor and up 1,400
feet into the Mayacamas Mountain range.
Learn more about the use of natural predation as part of our Sustainable Winegrowing practices at Kunde Family Estate
