Interview with Bonterra Vineyards Assistant Winemaker Jeff Cichocki

Bonterra Vineyards Assistant Winemaker, Jeff Cichocki, recently visited Denver to meet some of his local distributors. During Jeff's stay he took time out of his busy schedule to give us the lowdown on how Bonterra wines are produced and what makes them the number one selling line of wines made with organic grapes in the United States.

Located in Mendocino California beneath the clear azure skies, Bonterra has been producing and distributing its wines made from organic grapes since 1993. While the Bonterra brand was thought of in 1987, Bonterra's focus was on creating a delicious, palate pleasing, Mother Earth friendly (after all the name Bonterra literally translates to "Good Earth")  wine that could also be offered at an affordable price. Six years later the first case of Bonterra wine was produced. To their delightful surprise, Bonterra leaped to the forefront, well ahead of the curve, as they embarked on the organic trend that would not hit for another 10 or 15 years. Now that the trend is in full swing, Bonterra is again carving a path to making their wine production better and better for the Earth. The ultimate goal is to have a completely sustainable farmland.

What does sustainable mean? The more sustainable your land is, the stronger it is thereby enhancing the ability to produce better crops. Compare it to a human immune system. The stronger your immune system is, the easier it is to fight off infections and the less medications you need. Sustainable land helps itself stay healthy without pesticides. Bonterra has sheep and chickens to graze as well as fertilize; bluebird houses are posted throughout the farm to draw birds to control the insects; raptors and hawks keep the mice away; and to top it off pigs and deer can be found roaming the vineyards. All of these animals work together to keep the bad out, the good in, and the soil healthy. Jeff jokes of a "chicken tractor" which moves the chicken coops throughout the ranch so chickens are directed to where they need to be eating and, well, fertilizing.

Bonterra's current focus is to create biodynamic wines. What does biodynamic mean? The land is farmed holistically with a focus on self nourishment. For every grape that is removed from the land, there will be no nourishment lost. In turn, this creates stronger vines which will ultimately produce better grapes, and not to jinx it, that will render better wine. Currently there are 234 acres of certified biodynamic land at the ranch with 54 more transitioning. While the biodynamic land takes more manual labor to care for, in the long run, the land will stay as healthy as it can be.

What makes Bonterra the number one selling brand of wines made with organic grapes? It tastes delicious and has a great price point. It's easy to find and most bottles are below $20. Just ask Wine Spectator who rates Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc with an 86. Wine Enthusiast gives their Chardonnay an 89. Recently released was the 2008 Rose which have notes of fruits such as cherry and strawberries. If you haven't tried Bonterra yet, give it a shot. They are number one for a reason.

As I sit here and drink my Bonterra sav blanc, I ponder the question 'what makes Bonterra better than the rest'? Well I've got it. Most winemakers spend their time thinking about red and white wines. Bonterra spends their time thinking about red, white, and 'green' wines.