Gainey Vineyard

Sustainable Practices

Stewards of the Land

Gainey Vineyard is committed to farming its vineyards in a safe and sustainable way — a way that protects its workers, benefits the environment and produces its fine wines.

The winery employs a variety of viticultural practices as part of its sustainable efforts, including using cover crops and compost and natural soil amendments to condition the soil. Weeds are controlled by hand instead of spraying with pre-emergent herbicides that can leach into the groundwater.  

Additionally, powdery mildew — the fungus that can destroy grape bunches — is controlled with organic sprays. No poisons are used to contain gophers or other harmful animals. And when counts of harmful insects — such as leafhoppers and spider mites — reach a level where it is certain that significant economic damage will occur without the use of spray, only organic materials are used. 

For Dan Gainey, sustainable farming extends beyond his property line. 

Not long ago, a 65-acre property close to Gainey Vineyard’s Home Ranch was targeted for development, which would have drastically altered and disrupted the placid, pastoral character of Santa Ynez Valley. To prevent this from happening, Dan Gainey led a group of valley residents and farmers in purchasing the property, which were donated to the Santa Ynez Valley Preserve, a conservation land trust that will maintain it in perpetuity as agricultural land.  

Today, 45 acres of the preserved land are planted with alfalfa and three hundred different types of fruits and vegetables, including many heirloom tomato varieties, while 20 acres are maintained as riparian habitat.