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Markham Vineyards’ view of wine growing has always been to respect the land and fruit while working diligently to make both better. Using cover crops and alternate row cultivation to limit tractor and fossil fuel emissions, while still encouraging beneficial insect and plant growth, are some of the methods that have been used for many decades at Markham. Water conservation is a particular concern of Markham’s Calistoga Estate, where the vines struggle in the rocky soils. Special drip irrigation lines feed precious drops of water directly to the root structure of each vine. Irrigation emitters are fitted with tubes that drip inside a sunken PVC pipe, which stops evaporative water loss. Specially engineered willow revetments stop soil erosion and repair the creek banks bordering each of the vineyards. At the winery, the focus on sustainability continues in a more o n t h e r o a d JANUARY- F E B R UARY 2 0 1 5 41 GOING Green Sustainability From vine to bottle, the making of Silverado Vineyards’ exquisite wine depends on the experienced hands of a strong community Good wine is about people, from every hand that helps create our Cabernet Sauvignon to every current and future friend who lifts a glass of our wine around the dinner table. We would not be Silverado Vineyards without a strong community, which is why the Miller family, who owns the winery, feels so strongly about being a good neighbor. Of course that starts with how we go about our daily tasks. Our entire estate is sustainably farmed: 15% is farmed organically; 70% is Certified Napa Green; 50% is preserved in the Land Trust exclusively for open space and agriculture use. Our solar panels power 40% of the winery. We are proud of these accomplishments, but they are just the beginning. We know we can and will do better. For us, sustainable is not simply a farming method, it is an approach to all of our activities. It is the driving force behind everything we do to ensure that this winery and estate are here for generations of our customers, neighbors and the Millers to enjoy. Silverado Vineyards is a proud sponsor of “Sustainable Life” in NVL Magazine 6121 Silverado Trail • (707) 257-1770 • www.silveradovineyards.com complex way—much like a great wine. Water conservation remains key in their efforts of being good stewards to the historic property. Markham reclaims all of their winery wastewater. They use standard weight wine bottles that actually need less fuel to ship. Partnering with a local recycling center allows Markham to reduce their landfill impact by recycling all packaging materials. Even their grape pomace is recycled locally, and they purchase it back in the form of compost for their vineyards. Ride sharing has been in place for decades across all operational departments at Markham. To learn more about Markham Vineyards, visit them at www. markhamvineyards.com or 2812 St. Helena Hwy. N, St. Helena. For more information on the Napa County Green Business Program visit www.greenbusinessca.org or contact Danielle Schmitz at dschmitz@nctpa. net. NAPA VALLEY BUSINESS SPOtLIGHT by the Napa County Green Business Program MARKHAM VINEYARDS


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