1. This graphic is designed to better illustrate the different levels of farming.
At the bottom of the staircase, you have industrial farming, the least environmentally sensitive agriculture. At the top of the staircase, you have Biodynamic farming, the most environmentally sensitive way to farm.
Industrial agriculture is large-scale, machine and chemical-intensive farming. This method erodes the natural ecosystems of the land and treats the harvest as a commodity.
Conventional farming is primarily concerned with production yields, rather than product quality or environmental impact.
Sustainable farming practices offer a very broad direction for growers to attempt to act more environmentally responsible.  However, this is not a certified program, and thus is open to interpretation.
Benziger is dedicated to the three certified farming methods at the top of the staircase.
Farming for Flavors is an advanced certified farming program for all Benziger growers that are not already certified Biodynamic or Organic.  The program challenges growers to use sound environmental techniques to cultivate grapes with more site-specific characters, flavors and aromas.  The program is audited annually and certified by the Demeter Association – the same organization that certifies Biodynamic farms.
Organic grape growing avoids the use of synthetic chemicals and uses natural methods like crop rotation, tillage and natural composts to maintain soil health as well as natural methods to control weeds, insects and other pests.  Organic grapes carry a CCOF (California Certified Organic Farm) certification.
An important note: There is a difference between organically grown grapes and organic wine. Organic wine is made without the addition of sulfites. As wine does not contain enough naturally occurring sulfites to act as a preservative, organic wines can have a great deal of bottle variation. Benziger will provide consumers with wines made from organically grown grapes.
Biodynamics© is the highest form of organic farming.  It goes beyond the elimination of all chemical inputs.  It incorporates the environment in and around the vineyard and works with nature to apply the knowledge of life forces to bring about balance and healing in the soil. These grapes carry certification from the Demeter Association, the world’s only Biodynamic certifier.