Paso Robles vineyard embraces bees and biodiversity to champion sustainable, organic practices and community stewardship
PASO ROBLES — There’s a buzz in the air as Hope Family Wines embraces beekeeping to help drive its commitment to regenerative organic farming in Paso Robles. Five hives installed at the estate have yielded a bumper crop of honeybees that are feasting on the spring bloom, producing honey and enriching the ecosystem.
The Hope Family’s 67-acre estate vineyard in the Templeton Gap District has been SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified since 2011. Owner-Winemaker Austin Hope and Director of Vineyards Stasi Seay are now converting the vineyard to regenerative organic farming, a rigorous set of practices that focuses on soil health and biodiversity.
“We are taking this next step because it’s the right thing to do for our land, our wines and our community,” Hope said. “It’s the natural progression of the sustainable mindset that guides everything we do in the field.”
At the heart of this effort are the bees, which exemplify nature’s design for vibrant ecosystems. In addition to maintaining the hives, the winery is also cultivating bee-friendly habitats around the vineyard that will encouragestrong pollinator populations with benefits that extend beyond the fence line. The bees are also producing wholesome organic honey that will soon be available at the winery’s two tasting rooms in Paso Robles.
Last year, Hope Family Wines applied for and received a grant from the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Pollinator Habitat Program, which “supports the creation of habitats that provide critical floral resources and host plants for pollinators and other beneficial species.”
The grant is helping fund the planting of nearly 1,000 native California flowering plants along the vineyard’s southern perimeter and in the creek bed habitat that bisects the estate. These drought-tolerant plants include red bud, native sage, buckwheat, manzanita, lupin, elderberry, toyon, and yarrow, all flowering at different times of the year to create a consistent food source for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, birds, and other native wildlife.
Honeybee hives have always existed in the native oaks found across the vineyard. However, the new hives have already taken the bee population to another level, creating a literal buzz in the air. Seay notes that the bees will assist in setting a healthy crop this spring.
“Bees can improve set up to 70 percent during bloom,” she said. “Bees are known to remove the calyptra, or cap, from the grape flowers in search of pollen. In difficult weather, the caps can get stuck, resulting in decreased flower pollination. The bees help combat this issue by manually removing the caps and facilitating self-pollination.”
The conversion of the Hope Family Wines estate to regenerative organic farming is now fully underway. The efforts include abundant mixed cover crops; no-till farming; all-organic inputs; and a flock of Baby Doll sheep with two guardian alpacas, Freda and Mona. The animals provide natural mowing and weeding while improving soil diversity.
These efforts are underway in tandem with the Regenerative Vineyard Foundation’s new “One Block Challenge,” which encourages local growers to convert at least one vineyard block to regenerative farming to test, inspire, and advance the cause of sustainable agriculture in Paso Robles.
Also, during Earth Day Month in April, the Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar is giving plantable pollinator seed cards to guests, encouraging everyone to help save the bee population by planting vital pollinators.
“With the bees and other organic practices, we see benefits that go beyond the fence line and touch the surrounding environment and community,” Seay said. “It’s about creating a vibrant and resilient ecosystem in this place we’re proud to call home.”
Feature Image: The move toward regenerative organic farming is taking shape at Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, with a flock of Baby Doll sheep (shown above) and a crop of honeybees enriching the ecosystem. Contributed Photos
