vineyards Archives - Friends of the Eel River

Drought Revives 'Forgotten Art' at Wineries: Farming Without Irrigation

November 25, 2014

“You use what Mother Nature gives you,” said the 72-year-old owner of Canard Winery, who dry farms all his grapes, including cabernet sauvignon and merlot. “And as a result, I think we get better quality.” That doesn’t mean leaving the vines idle and praying for rain. Dry farming requires the right kind of soil to … Read more

Court Ruling Restores Right to Limit Russian River Water Use

June 19, 2014

A state appeals court has restored the authority of California water regulators to direct reductions in cold-weather sprays by grape growers and other waterfront farmers along the Russian River that have led to deaths of endangered species of salmon. A Mendocino County judge previously ruled that the state Water Resources Control Board lacked authority to … Read more