Soil, nature, appellation, and winemaking processes all equally influence the flavor of wine. PMW benefits from volcanic rhyolitic soils that are quite rare in wine growing climates. Therefore preserving the soil that drew us to the land is one of our highest priorities.

Only 19% of the 600 acres of the PMW Knights Valley property meet our strict criteria for planting. At our new coastal Seaview property, only 12% of the property will be developed.

We believe that the standard erosion control method of terracing is too disturbing to topsoil. Instead, we plant rows of vines to flow along the contours of slopes. Between the vines we plant a cover crop of nitrogen-fixing clovers combined with California native grasses to bind the soil and maintain its balance.

In this healthy environment, fostered by cover crops and surrounding natural vegetation, we are able to reduce the need for spraying - thereby promoting diversity of not just the insects, but natural yeasts as well.

Erosion Control Implemented at the Knights Valley Vineyard

PMW's implemented erosion control measures at the Knights Valley vineyard include but are not limited to the

• removal of environmentally destructive cattle on the sensitive mountainside landscape;
• planting of indigenous cover crops for erosion prevention;
• planting of nearly 10,000 firs and redwoods to repair the logged slopes and riparian corridor;
• installation of cross-slope interceptor ditches, sedimentation basins and fiber roll sediment barriers in the vineyards to control erosion and sedimentation; and
• restoration and protection of previously damaged wetland habitat.

Erosion Control Procedures Planned for the Seaview Vineyard

PMW's planned erosion control measures on the Seaview vineyard include but are not limited to

• carefully planned and implemented erosion and sediment control practices;
• repair of erosional features that have resulted from past land use activity by previous landowners;
• engineering roads, stream-crossing structures, reservoir, and vineyard drainage system, to ensure long-term stability;
• focused vineyard development in more gently sloping areas to minimize the amount of land to be cleared;
• establishment of a conservation easement on at least 35 acres of high-quality forest habitat bordering the Gualala River;
• avoidance of fish-bearing and non-fish-bearing streams that may support other aquatic life; and
• maintaining protective habitat buffers along all watercourses.