Latest news with #RegenerativeOrganic
San Francisco Chronicle
13-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Acclaimed Wine Country vineyard with popular tasting room is up for sale
A celebrated Sonoma County winery and vineyard is seeking a new owner. Medlock Ames Winery and its vineyard, Bell Mountain Ranch, are up for sale for $44 million. The estate comprises 342 acres in Healdsburg, straddling the Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley appellations. The listing, which was first reported by the Healdsburg Tribune, also includes Medlock Ames' popular tasting room in Alexander Valley. It's one of several California wine businesses downsizing or shutting down right now, a result of plunging wine consumption and sales. The Duckhorn Portfolio disclosed last week it will close some tasting rooms and discontinue some wine brands, including Paraduxx. The Rafael Vineyard in Napa's Oak Knoll District, the source of grapes for famous winemakers like Thomas Rivers Brown and Massimo Di Costanzo, is listed for $7.95 million, down from $10 million a year ago. The decision to sell Medlock Ames was made about 18 months ago, said president Julie Rothberg, before the industry's downturn became fully apparent. She said the winery is at its "pinnacle," thanks to winemaker Abby Watt. The team has been making notable improvements that should make it an attractive investment, particularly the rehabilitation of the Bell Mountain Ranch vineyard after parts of it burned in the 2018 Kincade Fire. The vines that they replanted are now producing fruit. 'The land has come back to life,' Rothberg said. 'If you came and saw it now, you wouldn't even know that a fire had been there.' College best friends Chris Medlock James and Ames Morrison founded Medlock Ames in 1998 after moving from New York and purchasing Bell Mountain. They gained a following for their Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux-style blends, and also became known for their sustainability efforts. They installed solar power throughout the property in 2004, and in 2022 became the first Sonoma County winery to earn a Regenerative Organic certification. In 2009, the vintners bought a 1920s gas station and dive bar about 10 minutes away from Bell Mountain and transformed it into a modern-feeling tasting room surrounded by organic gardens. It helped usher in a new era of Wine Country tourism catering to hip, young drinkers. The speakeasy they opened in the back, Alexander Valley Bar, was a hit with local winemakers. (The bar later closed, and Medlock Ames sold its liquor license.) The winery has an active club of about 2,000 members, Rothberg said. It's unclear what Medlock Ames' current ownership structure is. Rothberg said that the winery doesn't publicly discuss its ownership, but confirmed that it includes an 'original co-founder.' The property has some privileges that are becoming rarer in Sonoma County, like the ability to hold private events at the tasting room. Thanks to a permit expansion during the pandemic, they can now serve wine to customers throughout the entire tasting room property, including the gardens. Bell Mountain Ranch has 47 planted acres of grapes, about half of which are Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rothberg estimated another 33 could be planted. The vineyard could be sold in four parcels. The winery currently makes about 8,000 cases per year, but has capacity for 20,000. The listing also includes three homes that include gardens, pools, fitness centers and a bocce court, and notes that 140 acres could be subdivided 'for additional development or expansion of hospitality services.' 'Let's be honest, this is a really challenging time in the industry,' Rothberg said. 'But I'm personally really excited about the future and finding a new owner who has the passion to continue in these progressive traditions and see the next 30 years through.' In the meantime, Medlock Ames will continue to produce wine and host visitors for tastings.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Soorty, OCA partner to boost sustainable cotton in Pakistan
Through Soorty's partnership in the OCA Seed Commercialization Initiative it is tackling the long-standing challenge of providing access to safe, non-genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton seeds and boosting the traceability of sustainable cotton in Pakistan. By participating in this project, SOCI can supply farmers with dependable access to superior, non-GMO seeds, marking a significant advancement in the cultivation of organic cotton. Soorty agriculture ventures and traceability head Dr Yousaf said: "As we embrace project digitalisation, we are revolutionising farmer advisory with modern tools, ensuring traceability through the digital bale passport, and strengthening our initiatives with a dedicated seed laboratory. By launching the new ROC project, we are not just advancing sustainability — we are empowering farmers, enhancing transparency, and shaping the future of responsible agriculture." Soorty's approach to sustainability encompasses a broad spectrum of activities including regenerative and organic farming, recycling advancements, traceability efforts, and ethical manufacturing practices. The company integrates responsible sourcing, an innovative culture, social impact, and digital transparency to demonstrate that denim production can be conducted in a manner that benefits both the environment and individuals within the supply chain. Soorty's additional sustainability endeavours include promoting social uplift and transforming Pakistan's cotton sector via sustainable practices. SOCI and the Soorty Regenagri Initiative (SRI) are central to these efforts, providing non-GMO, ethically produced cotton that also rejuvenates the soil. These initiatives offer farmers financial stability, education, and ongoing support while integrating traceability solutions and ensuring fair market access for growers. Second Life, a trademark brand of recycled cotton products under the Soorty umbrella, enhances Soorty's commitment to circularity by converting post-consumer and post-industrial waste into new, traceable denim products. Soorty is also working towards achieving Regenerative Organic certification by year-end. This certification will complement Soorty's existing organic programmes aimed at enhancing soil health and biodiversity. Furthermore, the company has initiated a project that will provide brand partners and eventually consumers with visibility into the origins of their cotton. The introduction of QR-coded cotton bales is anticipated by the end of this year, enabling users to verify the source of their cotton and promote accountability within the supply chain. The newly established Soorty Seed Integrity Lab represents another investment in quality assurance. The lab is equipped to conduct off-season testing in climate-controlled environments, assess fibres purity, verify GMO-free seeds, and measure sustainability metrics to uphold industry standards. Soorty has also partnered with digital agriculture platform SAWIE to empower farmers by providing them with access to data analytics and artificial intelligence through a digital agricultural platform. A formal agreement was signed on 22 January as part of Soorty's dedication to enhancing cotton-growing communities in Pakistan. SAWIE CEO Dr Khalid Mahmood said: 'Through SAWIE Trace, we are enabling full transparency from farm to fashion, ensuring that every step of the journey is rooted in sustainability. By integrating regenerative and organic farming systems, we aim to reduce the ecological footprint of cotton, enhance water conservation, improve soil health, lower carbon emissions, and improve farmer incomes. This partnership marks a significant step towards a more responsible and climate-smart textile industry.' Soorty is implementing initiatives that strengthen women's roles in farming communities and digitising financial transactions to increase transparency and efficiency for all stakeholders involved. In August last year, Soorty Enterprises claimed to be the first organisation in Pakistan seeking to hit net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validating its near-term reduction targets. "Soorty, OCA partner to boost sustainable cotton in Pakistan" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
