Harvest Fair to honor Jackson Family Wines

The 2016 Sonoma County Harvest Fair will honor Jackson Family Wines of Santa Rosa as its outstanding sustainable processor.

The recognition comes from Jackson Family Wines being the first winery to offer grape growers a financial premium for certified sustainable grapes. That decision gave support in the drive to make Sonoma County a fully sustainable grape-growing region by 2019.

The environment-friendly practices that Jackson has used in its winemaking include closed-loop water recycling, sensors and drones to gauge water and fertilizer needs, high-tech drip irrigation systems that prevent evaporation and the wine industry’s largest on-site solar generation with storage provided by Tesla batteries.

“Ours is a multi-generational approach to farming with the goal of ensuring that the land remains healthy and productive for the next hundred years and beyond,” said Katie Jackson, who is in charge of sustainability and external affairs for the company.

Stewart Cellars opens Yountville tasting room

Stewart Cellars has opened a new tasting room in Yountville. The facility was designed by Ken Fulk, who also worked on the renovation of the historic Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe, the home of Three Sticks Wines in Sonoma.

The indoor-outdoor property features three stone buildings stationed around an existing heritage oak tree. Each building offers a different experience: a tasting hall, a facility that offer private tastings of library wines and a fast-casual cafe featuring items from chef Sarah Heller.

Founded in 2000, Stewart Cellars is a family business operated by founder Michael Stewart, his son James, daughter Caroline Stewart Guthrie, and son-in-law Blair Guthrie. Its Slingshot brand attracted considerable attention in the marketplace after a label redesign, resulting in an increase in production from 4,000 cases annually to 20,000 cases since the switch.

North Coast Wine Industry Expo registration opens

Registration is open for this year’s North Coast Wine Industry Expo trade show and conference. It will be held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Dec. 1.

Organizers expect 300 industry suppliers will have exhibitions. Six conference sessions also are scheduled. More than 3,000 wine industry professionals are expected

Ticket prices are at $20 each through Oct. 31. For more information visit wineindustryexpo.com/conference.php.

Compiled by Bill Swindell. Submit items to bill.swindell@ pressdemocrat.com.