Robert Hall Winery Partners With Leading Biodynamics Consultant Philippe Armenier
Paso Robles, CA; November 10, 2020 – In an industry first, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, through its Paso Robles-based Robert Hall Winery, will initiate a comparative trial for the wider wine community to learn about regenerative farming with organic and biodynamic farming techniques, comparing the results with conventionally farmed vineyards. The trial will be led by Robert Hall Winery’s Managing Director Caine Thompson with VP of Viticulture and Winemaking Marty Spate, while also bringing in world renowned biodynamic consultant Philippe Armenier.
For more than 30 years, Armenier has been carrying on a love affair with biodynamic farming. His family’s famed Domaine de Marcoux in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, was the first vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to convert to biodynamics. Armenier now passionately shares the philosophy of biodynamics with the world. Using these techniques at Domaine de Marcoux, the winery soared to new heights. Robert Parker once called the winery “one of the greatest wine estates in the world profiled in my book.”
The study at Robert Hall Winery will be unique in that once per month a Field Day will be held at Robert Hall Winery for trade, writers, press and consumers. The Field Days will be an educational hands-on experience explaining and teaching regenerative farming through organic and biodynamic techniques. “This is one of the most transparent studies that I’m aware of anywhere in the world,” says Armenier. “It will showcase regenerative farming practices in a real life case study that brings the whole community together on a journey.”
Thompson says, “This project acts as a wider research effort for O’Neill Vintners & Distillers with the potential to have a much greater impact as we look to how we can reduce carbon on a large scale and farm without synthetic chemicals as we regenerate our vineyards.”
This partnership project with O’Neill Vintners & Distillers builds upon a commitment to engage the community on sustainable conversations and practices. “While biodynamic and organic farming are age old practices, we want to examine the effectiveness of carbon sequestration through regenerative farming practices, along with quality and cost determinations,” says Founder and CEO Jeff O’Neill.
The regenerative farming comparative trial project will launch November 10th and the first guest Field Day with Armenier will be held at the Robert Hall Winery on Friday, December 4th at 10:00 am. Space is limited; please reserve your place by booking at www.roberthallwinery.com/
Robert Hall Winery
Founded in 1999 by the late entrepreneur Robert Hall, Robert Hall Winery showcases the best Paso Robles has to offer. The winery has three estate vineyards in the Geneseo and Estrella Districts, totaling 136 planted acres of fruit. In addition to growing Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Syrah, the winery also sources grapes across the entire Paso Robles AVA, capturing the true essence of the region. This provides Head Winemaker Don Brady with a broad range of soils and micro-climates that, together, create optimal fruit for the beautiful wines that capture the essence of Paso Robles.
Brady has been with the winery since its inaugural vintage. Under his winemaking expertise with Winemaker Amanda Gorter, Robert Hall continues to promote the Paso Robles region as one of the top winegrowing regions in California. Together, Brady and Gorter craft wines inspired by the pioneering spirit of the winery’s founder and the honest pursuit of The Good Life. Well-Earned. Visit Robert Hall Winery online at www.roberthallwinery.com.
