" The Earth does not belong to man,
Man belongs to the Earth
All things are connected like the blood
That unites us all:
Man did not weave the web of life
He is but a strand of it.
What ever he does to the web
He does to himself."
--Adapted from Chief Seattle's Speech 1854

We learned long ago that in order to preserve the health of our vineyards, we must respect the diversity of species that live there. This understanding, and a love for the natural world, led to the creation of Habitat wines.

Profits from Habitat wines, crafted from grapes grown in harmony with nature, will help to protect the health of wildlife habitat throughout the country.

Habitat wines are a natural product. The grapes are sourced from organically and sustainably farmed Napa Valley vineyards, meaning that we follow the principles of organic, sustainable farming whenever possible. This includes composting, which enriches the soil by increasing the microbial life. It is believed that microbes living on the roots of grapevines help to bring minerals and nutrients to the vine, imparting the flavor of the terroir--the climate, soils and other elements of the specific site--to the grapes.

To control pests, beneficial insects are encouraged, as are predators of rabbits and birds that gorge on the grapes. Hawk perches and owl boxes were constructed and placed in the vineyards to encourage predators to nest. Cover crops not only provide habitat for beneficial insects, which feed on vine-threatening pests, but also provide essential nutrients to the soil. As the seasons change, it is beautiful to observe these balanced, healthy vineyards.

Our hope is to extend this balance to more of our earth and its inhabitants. As profits from Habitat wines increase, a significant amount of the money needed to rescue endangered wildlife habitat could be raised. Funds will go only to programs that are truly non-profit; programs that, rather than funding overhead and lobbying, put every nickel into saving the land and preserving species. It is a big task, and we are only a tiny part of it, but our hearts are in the right place and we will grow the Habitat program as much as possible in order to do the most that we can.

What we ask of you is simple—please give the wines a try! You might not have heard of Semillon, which forms the foundation of the Habitat white wine. Semillon is a cousin of Sauvignon Blanc and is famed as a principal white grape of the Graves appellation of Bordeaux, France. It is very popular in Australia, but hasn’t caught on yet in California. It is richer than Sauvignon Blanc, with a slightly figgy tone to the fruit. We think you’ll love it.

We bet you have heard of Merlot, the base for the Habitat red wine blend. A cousin of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is softer, deliciously fruity and quaffable.

We craft both of these wines to be consumed while they are fresh and fruity, within a year or two of the vintage date. Because research shows 80% of all wine is consumed within 20 minutes of purchase, we don’t think this will be a problem!

Enjoy Habitat wines in good health and with the knowledge that your purchase will contribute to the preservation of wildlife habitat.