When it became a Certified Sustainable Vineyard and Winery in 2010, Cooper-Garrod Vineyards at Garrod Farms in Saratoga was ahead of the curve. The winery was recently honored with the prestigious Green Medal Community Award for Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership for 2024, the 10th year that the award from Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing has been presented.
The award recognizes vineyards and wineries that are leaders in implementing the Three E’s of sustainability: environment, economic and social equity.
In particular, the community award is given to the vineyard or winery that is using innovative practices to enhance relations with employees, neighbors and/or communities, and is one of four Green Medal awards each year; this year Cooper-Garrod joins fellow award-winners LangeTwins, Gloria Ferrer and Vino Farms, LLC.
Cooper-Garrod is part of a generational family agriculture operation that began in 1893. Co-located with Garrod Farms Riding Stables, the winery opened its doors to the public in 1994.
Their wine label depicts the Santa Clara Valley in the orchard bloom of spring that occurred for decades until the advent of Silicon Valley. Today, few orchards remain, but vineyards, also once more prevalent in the valley, are still part of the agricultural landscape. Today, the fourth and fifth generations of the Cooper and Garrod families are working the land.
Proprietors Bill and Doris Cooper, members of the fourth generation, are committed stewards of the land they inherited. Realizing that time was of the essence, they began to transition to organic farming in 2005.
They started with a 2-acre block, and the experiment went well enough that they decided to transform the entire 28-acre vineyard to the highest standards of organic farming. California Certified Organic Farmers gave the vineyard its stamp of approval in 2011.
Fifth-generation family members working at the vineyard and winery are Cory Bosworth, the tasting room, club and events manager, and Trevor Garrod, the assistant winemaker and production manager.
Going organic seemed daunting. Winemaker Bill Cooper says of the transition to organic, “The biggest hurdle was deciding, ‘We can do this.’ The biggest upside surprise was saving money and the feeling that we had taken our grape-growing to a higher level.”
He says the downside is that organic growing requires more attention. “One can’t just call up some chemical company when a disease or pest invades the vineyard; the grower has to be proactive and more aware of what is happening or could happen in the vineyards.”
Cooper says one of the major outcomes of going organic was their decision to switch to native yeast fermentation beginning in 2011. “Instead of buying a commercial yeast, we let the yeasts that come in from the vineyards ferment the grapes. We believe these yeasts combined with our estate, vineyard-designate grapes give the fullest expression of our Santa Cruz Mountains wines.”
Other Santa Cruz Mountains vineyards that have transitioned to organic farming include Silver Mountain, Ridge, Big Basin Vineyards and Storrs. “All of us can offer words of encouragement to those considering an organic transition or embarking on a more sustainable path, but the day-to-day work is individual,” Cooper says. “In addition, the certifying agencies and sustainability organizations want you to succeed and have a wealth of information available.” Check out www.organicwinetrail.org
Asked about the biggest overall benefit to having gone organic, Cooper says, “Just like participating in a sustainable winegrowing program, you have confidence that you are doing the best you can for the environment, your community and your bottom line.”
According to the press release announcing the awards, “Cooper-Garrod’s impact extends beyond the vineyards and into the community. From pioneering the Firewise Community initiative to actively participating in benefits for schools, mental health, Chambers of Commerce and history foundations, to inviting community members to use the farm’s hiking trails, they actively contribute to their neighbors’ well-being.
“Their ‘Stroll and Sip for Six’ donations offer an immersive vineyard/winery sustainability experience, while the ‘Walk with the Winemaker’ tours during Down to Earth Month in April showcase the company’s steadfast commitment to sustainability.
“Family and staff actively engage in public policy, environmental action and community organizations by serving on numerous boards and committees, further demonstrating their commitment to broader sustainability efforts.”
The Green Medal awards are presented by several prominent organizations devoted to sustainability: California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners, Napa Green, Sonoma County Winegrowers and Vineyard Team.