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Regenerative vineyards can pay their way, new Sonoma County study finds
['Roger Coryell']
Bay Area breaking news, local news and more | The Mercury News
Sonoma County grape growers weighing a shift to regenerative practices now have some hard numbers to work with.
The conventional vineyards in the study aren’t industrial operations spraying with abandon—they follow California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance certification protocols.
Do it yourselfHere’s where the study gets interesting for growers thinking long-term: the economics shift dramatically depending on whether you outsource regenerative services or bring them in-house.
The caveatsThe study assumed regenerative and conventional vineyards would produce identical yields.
For now, Sonoma growers have evidence that going regenerative won’t necessarily break the bank—especially if they’re willing to raise some sheep.