Sustainability

Making wine with integrity, honoring the land for generations to come.

Our commitment to sustainability

Martorana Estate Vineyards now spans 30 acres across two distinct areas within Dry Creek Valley, one of which once housed the Native American fishing village of the Southern Pomo Indians. Our family’s deep-rooted commitment to land preservation and sustainable practices has led us to fully embrace organic farming techniques.

Farming

Organic certification ensures our vineyards are tended without persistent pesticides or herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

We incorporate compost sourced from San Francisco’s recycling program. Applying 2-5 tons of compost per acre, we meticulously seed cover crops such as mustard, magus peas, bell beans, purple vetch, and cayuse oats between vine rows during flowering. These cover crops not only enrich the soil with nutrients for the vines and grapes but also provide a habitat for beneficial insects. Additionally, the microorganisms thriving in our soil enhance nutrient absorption by the vines.

Land preservation

We work with Russian River Coho Partnership to ensure that water remains in-stream for the native coho and steelhead salmon. When our crops produce buds in the spring, we need to protect them from frost, which can be done with water. Instead, we use a fan that creates an inversion layer to provide warm air. Leaving water in the streams for the fish is working — we’ve seen more fish come back in recent years.

Accolades

Our unwavering commitment to organic practices has garnered recognition, earning us certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers. In 2014, we were honored to receive the prestigious Wildlife Stewardship Award from the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, marking the first time this accolade has been bestowed upon a winery.