Sustainability

The Vineyards & Cover Crop

Look no further than Balletto Vineyards, where we take great pride in our sustainability efforts. Our passion lies with the people, their futures and the land that brings them together. Each year we plant a cover crop after the grapes have been picked, an organic mix of seeds, legumes, vetch and fava beans. This helps to increase the soil’s organic matter, cycle nutrients and provide erosion control. In addition, we do not use Roundup, or any other glyphosate-based herbicide. We are also Certified CA Sustainable and we comply with prohibitions and restrictions on certain crop-protection materials.

Natural Pest Control

We have bird perches and owl boxes in each vineyard so that native raptors and owls will come and hunt for gophers and other rodents in the vineyards. A tried and true deterrent. This harnesses the instincts of both predator and prey. The mere sight of a bird of prey is enough to drive off prey and is a sustainable abatement technique. At Balletto Vineyards, we believe that by promoting sustainability, we can create a brighter future.

Composting Techniques

We compost all our grape pomace from the winery’s winemaking process for both Balletto and our custom crush clients, for 9 to 10 months before spreading and tilling back into our vineyard soil the next spring.  Incorporating the compost helps improve soil structure, increases soil nitrogen, helps with positive microbiological activity and provides other micronutrients to the soil. *Pomace: the solid remains after destemming and pressing – skins, seeds, stems and any remaining pulp.

Habitat Management

In 2005, Balletto Vineyards created the Balletto Ranch Conservation Easement - 55 acres in conjunction with the Sonoma County Open Space District. We are always mindful of social sustainability and stewardship. Sustainability on all fronts. In order to respect the land and environment around our vineyards, we make sure the border areas are properly maintained so that we protect the natural habitat.  We also maintain the Oaks and remove any fallen trees within our vineyards.Our viticulture department also utilizes California’s “PRESCRIBE” program to minimize any impacts to threatened or endangered species.

CA Certified Sustainable Vines

Our vineyards are like an extension of our family, so we treat them accordingly. We sample soil and water and closely monitor the vineyards to make informed decisions and minimize the amount of fertilizer and other inputs that we use in our vineyards. Our vineyards have been third party certified as Sustainable for over 13 years - since 2010. California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing is California's sustainable viticulture program. The goal: to grow and craft quality winegrapes and wine while protecting the environment, being a good neighbor and employer, and maintaining thriving family farms and businesses.

Responsible Water Use: Recycle

All the water in the winery that is used for Wine Production is recycled and re-used for irrigation and Frost Protection. The water is settled into 3 ponds and then transferred to the larger 10 million gallon storage pond where it completely settles out. Water is then added from the City of Santa Rosa recycled water supplies to compensate the needs of the vineyard. This helps us decrease our ground water usage to a very small percentage of the water needs for the winery’s vineyard. We also collect rain water from our 60,000 square foot winery and cellar buildings in two ways. 1) rain water that hits the roof is directed and channeled into the main irrigation pond at the back of the winery. 2) a pump collects excess water from the vineyards and pumps it back into the main storage pond. Adding a rain collection system gives us a back up water source during times of drought!

The Dirt: Soil Moisture Monitor

We use soil moisture probes in our vineyards at various depths depending on the type of the soil. This helps us truly know the moisture content in each individual vineyard, so we can custom tailor our drip irrigation to each individual vineyard and only water when it is necessary. At Balletto, we understand that local communities are integral parts of success and focus on supporting them in times of drought whenever possible.

Making Solar Powered Wine!

We first installed solar panels in 2010 on the roof of our pumping station. In 2021 our winery roof was covered with 60,000 square feet of solar panels which now supplies 100% of the energy needs for the winery!!

“For many years, we’ve strived to implement strategies and technologies that allow us to work in the most sustainable way possible, allowing generations of Balletto’s to continue in the family wine business, and this milestone is a testament to that vision and success.” - John Balletto.

The Community Matters

We support the Sonoma County community and purchase locally whenever possible. We participate in local community service groups and donate untold amounts time and donations to help better our community. The Balletto Family supports Sonoma County. We believe that by supporting our community and promoting sustainability, we can create an even brighter future. We take pride in creating delicious wines with thoughtful artisan crafting while preserving the local environment!

Our People

We strive to create a positive work environment for our employees. Safety and social equity are very important in today’s workplace as well as an excellent benefit package is provided for all employees. Our field workers and their families are very important to us. We help with housing whenever possible.  We provide Housing for many employees with Bunk Houses and also single family houses that we have built or purchased over the years. Feeling good about your wine purchase doesn't have to be hard. With us, every bottle not only tastes amazing but does global good as well. So enjoy each sip knowing that it supports local communities and promotes responsible business practices for years to come!