Viticulture
At Rhys Vineyards, we strive to achieve the highest possible quality by making wines that are pure expressions of the vineyard. Given this, we manage our vineyards using a philosophy based on Organic and Biodynamic farming. Our goal is to foster biodiversity and treat the vineyard as a self-sustaining living organism. This biodiversity provides our vineyards with a balanced, natural immune system allowing us to minimize outside input to the vineyard and avoid non-Organic chemical applications. Most importantly, this natural environment enhances our grapevines’ ability to express the unique geology of our sites.
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Our commitment to biodiversity extends beyond viticulture. At each of our sites over 75% of the land is left in a completely natural state, while less than 25% is in vines. In addition to the native wildlife, we plant herb, flower, vegetable, and grain crops while our free ranging chickens and sheep also help naturally fertilize the vineyards.
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By creating a living soil we can make better wine. Chemical fertilizers force vines to binge and bust, creating fitfull, uneven growth and development. In contrast, our approach builds the microbial population in the soil which breaks down the organic micro and macro nutrients and makes them available as the vine needs them. This provides for even Phenolic development throughout the season. Additionally, it helps align flavor and physiological maturity which is critical for wine that is balanced and without excessive alcohol. Of course the proof is in the glass and we hope that you will enjoy the results of these efforts.