Algodon Wine Estates is Going Green - The Algodon
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The Algodon

Algodon Wine Estates is Going Green

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By Jorge Alberto Arenas, Agronomical Engineer for Algodon Wine Estates & Diego Coll Benegas, Director of Project Development, Tourism & Hospitality for Algodon Wine Estates

Organic agriculture cultivation strictly allows for the use of authorized ecofriendly products, as opposed to synthesized products such as agrichemicals, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many farms and plantations may experience difficulties in organic cultivation by way of infestation and diseases from which they may potentially suffer as a result. Such is the inherent danger for peach, apple, quince, pear, and walnut trees; which is why Algodon Wine Estates has chosen to maintain conventional treatments in these sectors. However, our vineyards fare excellently with organic and ecofriendly approaches because pest control is safely achieved via sulfur and copper treatments, and weed control is done mechanically. With the added advantage of certain surrounding beneficial plants, guanos and/or compost to the soil, our vineyard's fertility is easily balanced.          

Certification process

In early 2009, Algodon Wine Estates set aside 2.1 acres of Malbec vineyards and 2.1 acres of Bonarda vineyards for organic treatment.  These 10 year old vines are significantly separated from- and will not be affected by- the conventional treatment of the rest of the estate.  Generally, full organic certification may only be achieved after the third harvest.  In the meantime, these vineyards will be labeled as "in transition".

Independent mechanical equipment and storage facilities will be needed for our organic harvest, as they may not be used with our conventional harvest.  In order for our winery to be certified as a conventional and organic producer, we will need separate organic/conventional facilities for storing our supplies and equipment.  This handling and control will require strict adherence to certified guidelines and standards.

The Estate

Our golf course's ecofriendly preservation and daily maintenance poses no potential hazard to the 2,050 acres of surrounding crops and farmland.   Although the course "plays through the vines and orchards", there is actually a substantial buffer zone between our vineyards and reservoirs, and our golf green.  The very depth of our groundwater levels also helps to keep our underground water sources totally safe from the small quantity of agrochemicals used.  Maintenance to our golf course is done by a highly qualified staff who takes special care to respect the surrounding environment.  The cultivation methods that we use for the golf course and the vineyards are organic and ecofriendly in nature, and the region's low humidity levels are another reason we have very little need for chemical pesticides.  Algodon Wine Estates utilizes a minimal quantity of agrochemicals, and all applications are applied directly without using sprays.  It should also be noted that all fertilizers used have been derived from natural products such as compost or guano.

In addition, Algodon Wine Estates has launched an ecologically inspired approach to the transformation of solid waste and effluents into biofertilizers.  The philosophy behind this approach is that a self-contained community such as Algodon Wine Estates is in itself an organism that requires optimization (of the use and recycling) of energies within the development, thus minimizing the consumption of external energies and the exporting of any energy other than those inherent to the finished product - our wine.  The advantages of this system include:

This system was first put into place in the Spring of 2008 when a new well was built for the restaurant kitchen and clubhouse bathrooms.  The process includes a bacterial transformation of waste and effluents into water suitable for irrigation, thus greatly reducing the estate's water consumption.  This natural system is currently functioning successfully and will soon serve as the model to apply to our existing lodge and winery, as well as in any new building constructed in the future.

Algodon Wine Estate's restaurant and lodge have also recently begun a recycling and compost program.  A special decomposition facility has been constructed in the Northeast area of the estate for organic garbage and the production of compost.  Likewise, a separate area has been designated to collect glass and plastic bottled waste, which is then transported to San Rafael's recycling center.  We are very pleased that our efforts have taken us closer to achieving our goal of becoming a greener development!