Bonfire Destroys Vines!

Dirty Talk on Wine

Posted 11/29/2006 at 11:54 AM by Dirk

Thanks for the question. We removed and burned those vines so we will be able to produce electricity from solar panels. It should provide 100 percent of our winery's electrical needs, and it will provide a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

Agricultural burn dates are determined and regulated by the state. Alternatives to burning are just starting to appear. While we have had some artisans use vines as sculpture, this outlet has not been able to use many of the 1000 to 2000 vines per acre that get removed when a vineyard is replanted. The most exciting improvement is the growing use of mobile shredders that chip the vines. There are limitations based on the removal of the stakes and the trellis, but more vineyards are being planted for compatibility with the equipment. It is the future.

Comment by Dirk Hampson
December 08, 2006 @ 9:36 am

I was just wondering if there is a better way to dispose of the vines other than burning them. On the very day of the burn, there was a "Spare the Air Day" in the Bay Area. Hydro-carbons were particularly high because of all the wood burning. Could these vines be submerged in ponds to create habitat, could the vines be donated to a grapevine product artisan in the Valley, could the vines be chipped for ground cover? Cindy

Comment by Cindy
December 07, 2006 @ 1:19 pm

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About the Author

Dirk Hampson

Few winemakers realize the opportunity to build a winemaking program from the ground up, living and growing with the vineyards over two decades. Dirk Hampson, director of winemaking and chairman at Far Niente, and sister wineries Dolce and Nickel & Nickel, counts himself among the fortunate. An enology graduate from the University of California, Davis, Hampson honed his craft at some of Europe's greatest properties, and was the first American to apprentice at Bordeaux First Growth Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Hampson returned to the US and was appointed winemaker at Far Niente in 1983.