Amista Vineyards, nestled in the Dry Creek Valley AVA of Sonoma County, proudly announces its Morningsong Vineyard has achieved organic certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). This milestone coincides with the winery’s 20th anniversary, marking two decades of leadership and innovation in Healdsburg’s dynamic wine community, where they are known for their sparkling wines and Rhône varietals.
For 20 years, Amista has dedicated itself to refining its practices in both vineyard management and winemaking. This new organic certification underscores their commitment to sustainability, as organic wine is produced from grapes farmed without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, resulting in wines with minimal additives.
Vicky Farrow, proprietor of Amista Vineyards, expressed her excitement: “I was delighted to discover that Amista Vineyards is the first and only winery in Sonoma County specializing in sparkling wines made exclusively from organically certified grapes. Our commitment to sustainability and responsible land stewardship has always been a priority, and achieving organic certification is a significant milestone. Moving forward, all our estate wines will bear the organic label. I’m especially grateful to our talented winemaker, Ashley Herzberg, for her visionary leadership in reaching this goal.”
Ashley Herzberg elaborated on the evolution of their project goals. “Initially, we aimed to enhance our wines with native yeast and richer nutrients in the grapes. We believe that healthier soils yield better fruit and, consequently, better wines. Protecting our substantial investment in replanting over half of our vineyard in 2018 was also crucial. Although we’ve been practicing organic farming for years, it’s thrilling to officially share this achievement with our customers and those who prefer organic options.”
Amista’s environmental commitment extends beyond winemaking. Vicky and her late husband, Mike, played a role in a community effort to restore Dry Creek and create a habitat for endangered Steelhead trout and Coho salmon. Their tasting room was built with energy-efficient insulated concrete forms and solar panels.
To learn more about Amista’s journey to organic certification and view photos from the first day of the 2024 harvest, including the team’s “blessing of the grapes” ceremony, visit their website.
