Our home vineyards are located in the hills east of St. Helena, at elevations ranging from 300 to 1200 feet, on a south-facing parcel bisected by Conn Creek. In late 1998, we acted on a long-standing conviction and began to farm these vineyards organically and sustainably. With the help of farming consultant, 'Amigo Bob' Cantisano, along with our vineyard manager, Hugo Maldonado, we became a completely organic property, returning to the time-honored combination of hand and tractor hoeing for weed control. A cover crop of vegetation rich in naturally obtained nutrients is now planted after harvest between vine rows to replace those depleted from the soil. This new, natural habitat encourages the spread of beneficial insects as well. At the same time, we plant a ring of pest-attracting plants around the vineyard to serve as an alternative habitat - an insect 'buffer zone' so to speak - for those creatures we want to keep away from the vines. Decreasing the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers has done much to alleviate our concerns about long-term soil health and crop viability. At the same time, we have also found that sustainable farming produces richer, more complex, and more flavorful fruit. Our current bottlings of 'Neyers Ranch Merlot' and 'Neyers Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon' reflect these huge dividends in wine quality.