Ponzi Vineyards
Sustainable Practices
Committed to Sustainable Agricultural Practices
In 2000, the Ponzi family proudly achieved LIVE Certification for the winery and each of their vineyards. The LIVE Program (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) encourages biodiversity in the vineyard with a goal to produce the highest quality wines for refined palates and environmentally conscious consumers by using sustainable techniques. Some of the program objectives include: visualizing the vineyard as a whole system, creating and maintaining viticulture that is economically viable over time, implementing cultural practices and solving problems with the goal of protecting the farmer and the society at large and encouraging responsible stewardship of the soil, its health, fertility and stability.
This program was developed in association with, and is certified by, the International Organization for Biological Control, the official European agency setting standards for sustainable agricultural practices and products. Oregon is the first in the nation to adopt the LIVE program, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining the high quality standards demanded of a world-class wine growing region.
The Ponzi family has always maintained a philosophy of building strong, healthy vineyards through sustainable agricultural practices. All of the Ponzi-owned and managed vineyards — Estate, Abetina, Madrona, Aurora and Avellana — now proudly claim LIVE Certification. Through the family’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, they plant ground covers to condition the soils, invent mechanical devices to solve weed and erosion problems, alternate mowing throughout the vineyard rows to encourage biodiversity, use non-chemical methods of weed control under the vines, practice cultural techniques for insect control, recycle all organic matter and use alternative spray materials.
In addition, an intensive use of hand labor is extremely important to Ponzi’s vineyard management. Ponzi has its own vineyard crew comprised of individuals who have been exclusively employed by the family for a minimum of 10 years. Each vineyard task is evaluated and accomplished based on a central goal of encouraging and allowing each vineyard to express its individual character without undue interference or manipulation. Techniques include hand pruning, tying up, shoot thinning, leaf pulling, crop thinning and of course, hand harvesting. These practices result in healthy vineyards, desirable two tons per acre yields of profoundly flavored grapes.
Ponzi’s LIVE membership recognizes its sensitive approach to sustainable agricultural practices in the vineyard and a respectful, gentle, hands-on approach to winemaking in the cellar. Fruit sourced from other growers is only purchased from regional vineyards that are also LIVE Certified.
Ponzi Vineyard and Winery Practices
Oregon Certified Sustainable
LIVE Certified Sustainable
Salmon Safe
Zero carbon footprint
Integrated pest management
Prescott Western Bluebird Recovery
Restored habitat
Pumice used for fertilizer
Gravity-flow winemaking process
Recycling at facility and offices
Marketing material printed on recycled paper
Repurposed old buildings
Non-irrigated vineyards
Practices Specific to Collina del Songo
Waste and storm water reused for irrigation
Solar power
Indirect natural lighting
Energy efficient fluorescent lights
Reflective zinc-alum metal roof
Building 80% buried in the ground to maintain cool temperatures
Cool evening air used for natural ventilation
Landscaping features drought-resistant native plant species
