VITICULTURE

We think critically about our farm decisions and our impact on ecosystems.

At Madson, we believe that in order to produce great wines, one must understand the soils that lie beneath the vines and the climate that surrounds them. Only then can one understand the fruit, to make thoughtful decisions about farming and harvesting. Without quality wine grapes, the vinification is more about hiding mistakes in the vineyard than it is about expressing the vineyard to its full potential. With this in mind, Madson has made an effort to lease vineyards and carry out all farming practices instead of buying fruit. We do not directly own our vineyards but we farm all of our vineyards or consult local Santa Cruz Mountain growers with their viticultural practices.

As a standard, all of the vineyards that we work with have been converted to 100% organic practices. We use only ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers including animal waste and nitrogen fixing cover crops to help regulate and maintain the health of soil microbes. Many of our vineyards were not organic prior to our adoption; we find that motivating vineyard owners to adopt organics is more rewarding than merely searching for growers who already understand its value. However, organic agriculture does not encompass all of the solutions for responsible agriculture. We must explore beyond the organic system to maintain and improve our surrounding ecosystems and communities.

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farm system that enriches and sequesters carbon dioxide in soils, increases biodiversity, and improves watersheds. While organic agriculture ensures a healthy crop for anthropogenic purposes, organics does not necessarily improve surrounding ecosystems and soils. With an evolving climate, we believe that agriculture must evolve to not only care for people but also care for the environment and the atmosphere.

Our pledge to be carbon neutral.

It is our belief that our rapidly changing climate is the most pressing threat to the planet, our communities, our vineyards and our future generations. With this in mind, we have adopted regenerative agriculture practices. However, our winery production still uses electricity from the grid and all of our shipping is carried out by traditional means. As a business that is dependent on the health of our vineyards and environment, we pledge to operate 100% carbon neutral, or sequester an equal amount of greenhouse gases as we emit. In collaboration with Terra Pass, we will plant 318 trees in 2020 and we will reassess our emissions each year after. As our environment changes so must our business structure and ethos, which is why we believe it is our responsibility to regenerate and protect the fruits of our labor.

With love,
Cole, Ken & Abbey

Vineyard Portfolio

Ascona Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 12 acres - 2500ft elevation - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Aligoté

Arey Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 1 acre - 680ft elevation - Chardonnay

Soda Springs Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 1 acre - 2350ft elevation - Chardonnay

Meadowridge Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 3 acres - 510ft elevation - Pinot Noir

DCR Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 3 acres - 320ft elevation - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Toyon Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 3 acres - 480ft elevation - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Red Tail Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - .5 acres - 2100ft elevation - Syrah

Hawks Feather Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - .6 acres - 640ft elevation - Aligoté

Ellison Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 4 acres - 1800ft elevation - Chardonnay

Kessler-Haak Vineyard - Sta. Rita Hills - 22 acres - 320ft elevation - Syrah

Massa Vineyard - Carmel Valley - 60 acres - 1600ft elevation - Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous Vineyards

Legan Vineyard - Santa Cruz Mountains - 4 acres - Pinot Noir

Komrosky Vineyard - Santa Clara Valley - 3 acres - Pétillant Naturel Field Blend