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Farming
Rooted in the Land
An organic approach to farming
At Arkenstone, great wine begins in the vineyard. From the earliest days of the estate, farming has been guided by a simple principle: the vineyard should be cared for in a way that allows the land to speak clearly through the wine. For that reason, the estate has always been farmed using organic practices, with all vineyard work carried out by an in-house team under the direction of winemaker Sam Kaplan.
The 12-acre vineyard sits high on the western shoulder of Howell Mountain between roughly 1,400 and 1,650 feet in elevation. Divided into more than twenty individual blocks, each section of the vineyard was planted to match the specific soils, exposures, and slopes found across the property. The site’s rocky volcanic soils and nutrient-poor conditions naturally limit vine vigor, producing small berries with concentrated flavors and structure—hallmarks of Howell Mountain Cabernet.
Organic farming here is deeply hands-on. With a dedicated year-round crew managing pruning, canopy work, and harvest, the team is able to respond carefully to the nuances of each block and vintage. Working organically also helps preserve the vitality of the mountain soils and the surrounding ecosystem, allowing the vineyard to evolve naturally while producing fruit of exceptional purity and balance.
WHY ORGANIC MATTERS
In a healthy, organically farmed vineyard, biodiversity is not something that needs to be artificially manufactured—it is something that naturally exists. When the soil is alive and the farming is thoughtful, the land begins to express the balance it has always been capable of. Native grasses, wildflowers, insects, birds, and microorganisms return on their own, forming a living system that supports the vines rather than competing with them.
Much of modern agriculture attempts to reintroduce biodiversity by planting large numbers of flowers and pollinator plants. While these efforts are well-intentioned, they often aim to recreate what a healthy ecosystem would already provide if the land were allowed to function naturally. In an organically farmed vineyard with living soils, the surrounding environment begins to restore itself—native plants emerge, beneficial insects establish themselves, and a balanced ecosystem develops over time.
The goal of organic farming is not to engineer nature, but to work in partnership with it. By avoiding synthetic chemicals and focusing on soil health, microbial life, and responsible stewardship, the vineyard becomes part of a broader, self-sustaining landscape. When the system is healthy, biodiversity does not need to be forced—it simply returns.
Sustainability
Sustainability at Arkenstone begins with respect for the land itself. From the beginning, we chose to farm organically and to work with the existing landscape rather than reshape it—preserving the surrounding forest, leaving native vegetation in place, and allowing the natural ecosystem that has long existed on Howell Mountain to remain intact. Our vineyards are farmed with the belief that healthy soils and balanced ecosystems produce the most expressive wines.
Our commitment to stewardship also shaped how the winery itself was built. Rather than altering the terrain, our production facility was constructed underground, working with the natural contours of the mountain. This approach minimizes the visual impact on the landscape while providing natural insulation that significantly reduces the need for energy-intensive cooling.
Alongside these foundational decisions, we continue to reduce our environmental footprint through thoughtful improvements such as solar power and the use of an electric tractor in the vineyard. Together, these choices reflect a long-term commitment to responsible farming and careful stewardship of this remarkable site for generations to come.
Hands on Farming
Farming our vineyards in-house allows us to care for the land—and the fruit—with an attention to detail that simply isn’t possible otherwise. Every vine is tended by hand, and the same small team walks the same rows throughout the season, developing an intimate understanding of how each block responds to the vintage. This continuity of observation allows us to make thoughtful decisions at every stage, from canopy management to harvest timing. When the fruit is ready, we pick exactly when we believe it should be picked—no compromises, no outside schedules. Overseen closely by winemaker Sam Kaplan, this hands-on approach ensures that the work done in the vineyard directly reflects the vision for the wines in the cellar.
