St. Helena, Napa Valley and San Francisco, February 2016—-Stu Smith, Enologist/General Partner at Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery, will be a panelist at Community Alliance for Family Farmers’ panel discussion—“How Green Is Your Wine?”—and tasting on February 22. Organized by Community Alliance for Family Farmers (CAFF) and The Center for Urban Education on Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), the event takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m. at the Ferry Building (Port Commission Hearing Room, 2nd floor, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco 94111).
The evening will begin with a panel discussion and then continue to a walk-around wine tasting which includes farm-to-table small bites from The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Tickets are $20 a person and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-green-is-your-wine-a-discussion-and-tasting-tickets-20798702479 .
The event celebrates wineries who grow their grapes in dry farmed vineyards and use other sustainable methods. “You may eat at farm-to-table restaurants and buy local, organic produce at farmers’ markets, but what about the wine you drink? Come hear California vintners and wine grape growers discuss organic vineyard practices, dry farming techniques, and what actually goes into their wine bottles. Dry farming was common in California until the 1970s, when drip irrigation enabled growers to irrigate hillsides. In this era of drought and climate change, will dry farming make a comeback? Discover how wineries are producing top-quality wines by reintroducing dry farming and practicing environmental stewardship,” explains one of the event coordinators, Sayla Kraft of CAFF.
Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone is the only panelist from the Napa Valley. The other panelists are Jason Haas (Tablas Creek Vineyard), David Gates (Ridge Vineyards) and Steve Gliessman and Roberta Jaffe (Condor’s Hope).
Wineries participating in the tasting following the discussion are Smith-Madrone, AmByth Estate, Captain Vineyards, Condor’s Hope, DaVero, Frog’s Leap, Porter Creek, Preston Farm and Winery, Quivira Vineyards, Ridge Vineyards and Tablas Creek Vineyard.
CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) is dedicated to cultivating a sustainable food system through the operation of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and educational programs.
CAFF (Community Alliance with Family Farmers) builds sustainable food and farming systems through policy advocacy and on-the-ground programs which create more resilient family farms, communities and ecosystems.
Smith-Madrone is one of Napa Valley’s authentically artisanal wineries, founded in 1971 by Stuart Smith. Winemaking and grape-growing are handled entirely by the two brother-proprietors, Stuart and Charles Smith, iconoclasts known for their staunch adherence to dry farming on their mountain vineyard, and Samuel Smith, Assistant Winemaker. All of Smith-Madrone’s wines come from the 38 acres of estate vineyards surrounding the winery, planted 45 years ago by Stuart and Charles. The vineyards extend across steep mountainsides, at elevations between 1,300 and 1,900 feet, on slopes angling up to 34%. Total production each year is less than 4,000 cases; the winery makes Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cook’s Flat Reserve. More at www.smithmadrone.com.
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