Farmstead Certification standards

Each farm and wine is thoroughly vetted. These are rare, artisan wines of worldclass quality and consistency. The standards not only require the wine to be delicious, but are more stringent than Slow Food, Certified Organic and countless other "certification" programs.

1. Small, family farm – We know each farmer personally and have inspected the vineyards and cellar carefully. An ideal partner produces a maximum of 200,000 bottles, preferably less.

2. Wine is grown, not made- Our farmers concentrate their efforts in the vineyards and then take a handcrafted, non-manipulative approach to winemaking.

3. Vinaroon – all Farmstead Wines are made by the same people that grow the grapes. Vinaroon is old English for vigneron, the French word inseparably meaning farmer and winemaker.

4. Naturally farmed– We certify that all Farmstead wines are naturally farmed. Our farmers work in harmony with nature. No synthetic chemicals, no herbicides, no pesticides and no irrigation.

5. Delicious. The wine itself is balanced and harmonious with a focus on depth and complexity of flavors. It delivers value for its price.

Every wine in the Farmstead Wines collection is naturally farmed and handcrafted. Each
farm employs unique practices and ideas, but they share a common theme: natural equilibrium. While it
would be simpler to put each farm into a category of biodynamic, organic, sustainable, etc, such categories
ignore the complexity of nature, agriculture and winegrowing. While all of our farms do use techniques that
are considered organic or biodynamic practices, they are employed for a purpose beyond marketing or a
certification program. Our farmers utilize these methods for only one reason: quality. The only way to have
really fantastic, complex wine is by growing great grapes. Great grapes are the fruit of a healthy plant.
Fortunately, a fundamentally healthy plant grows best in a naturally maintained environment. Wine is an
agricultural product; a delicious beverage that results from our ability to work in harmony with nature. Wines
of the highest quality are not only the fruit of a healthy vine, but also skilled cultivation and our human ability
to cooperate with nature.

Sustainable agriculture doesn’t start and stop with a commitment to allowable and nonallowable
materials and practices. Farmstead Wines farmers reflect a commitment to work within the
natural biological cycles that are necessary for a truly sustainable farming system - a system that
works in harmony with micro-organisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals, to maintain and
increase the long-term fertility of soil, leaving it even more vibrant and alive for the next generation
of farmers. True sustainability extends beyond the farm and into the cellar, which means no
manipulation or artificial inputs.

Our standards our adapted from “Certified Naturally Grown” and Organic certification programs,
while incorporating best practices from vignerons *vinaroons and biodynamicists; adjustments
diligently incorporate the specifics and vagaries of wine-growing. At every possible stage, we have
attempted to make the criteria more exacting than standard organic certification programs.
Any certification program is only as strong as the participating farmers and as such, we only work
with known and trusted farmers.
To be sold or labelled as a Farmstead Wine the wine must be produced and handled without the use
of:
(a) Synthetic substances and ingredients, except as provided in 205.601;
(b) Nonsynthetic substances prohibited in 205.602;
(c) Manipulative practices or substances, as described in 205.207
(d) Ionizing radiation, as described in Food and Drug Administration regulation, 21 CFR 179.26;
(e) Irrigation
(f) Sewage sludge

Land requirements. ( 205.202)
Any field or farm parcel from which wines are intended to be sold, labelled, or represented as
"naturally farmed" must:
(a) Have been managed in accordance with the provisions of 205.203 through 205.206;
(b) Have had no prohibited substances, as listed in 205.105, applied to it for a period of 3 years
immediately preceding harvest of the crop; and
(c) Have distinct, defined boundaries and buffer zones such as runoff diversions to prevent the
unintended application of a prohibited substance to the crop or contact with a prohibited substance
applied to adjoining land that is not naturally farmed.
Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard. ( 205.203)
(a) The farmer must select and implement tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve
the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil and minimize soil erosion.
(b) The farmer must manage crop nutrients and soil fertility through rotations, cover crops, and the
application of plant and animal materials.
(c) The farmer must manage plant and animal materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter
content in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant
nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances. Animal and
plant materials include:
(1) Raw animal manure, which must be composted
(2) Remnants from pruning, shoot thinning, crop thinning, and canopy management
(3) By products of fermentation, including, but not limited to grape skins and lees
(3) Uncomposted plant materials.
(d) A farm may manage crop nutrients and soil fertility to maintain or improve soil organic matter
content in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant
nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances by applying:
(1) A crop nutrient or soil amendment included on the National

List of synthetic substances
(as restricted by Farmstead below)allowed for use in organic crop production;
(2) A mined substance of low solubility;
(3) A mined substance of high solubility, Provided, That, the substance is used in
compliance with the conditions established on the National List of nonsynthetic materials
prohibited for crop production;
(4) Ash obtained from the burning of a plant or animal material, except as prohibited in
paragraph (e) of this section: Provided, That, the material burned has not been treated or
combined with a prohibited substance or the ash is not included on the National List of
nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production; and
(5) A plant or animal material that has been chemically altered by a manufacturing process:
Provided, That, the material is included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed
for use in organic crop production established in 205.601.
(e) The farmer must not use:
(1) Any fertilizer or composted plant and animal material that contains a synthetic substance
not included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop
production;
(2) Sewage sludge (biosolids) as defined in 40 CRT Part 503; and
(3) Burning as a means of disposal for crop residues produced on the operation: Except,
That, burning may be used to suppress the spread of disease or to stimulate seed
germination.

Seeds and planting stock practice standard. ( 205.204)
(a) The farm must use organically grown planting stock: Except, That,
(1) Nonorganically produced planting stock to be used to produce grapes may be sold,
labeled, or represented as Farmstead only after the planting stock has been maintained under
a system of Farmstead management for a period of no less than 1 year; and
(2) The selection of rootstock must not be a single clone. Biodiverse plants through a
traditional massale selection is required whenever possible. It is acceptable to graft varietal
clones to the rootstocks.

Crop rotation practice standard. ( 205.205)
The farm must implement a crop rotation including but not limited to sod, cover crops, green
manure crops, and catch crops that provide the following functions that are applicable to the
operation:
(a) Maintain or improve soil organic matter content;
(b) Provide for pest management in annual and perennial crops;
(c) Manage deficient or excess plant nutrients; and
(d) Provide erosion control.
Crop pest, weed, and disease management practice standard. ( 205.206)
(a) The farm must use management practices to prevent crop pests, weeds, and diseases including
but not limited to:
(1) Crop rotation and soil and crop nutrient management practices, as provided for in
205.203 and 205.205;
(2) Sanitation measures to remove disease vectors, weed seeds, and habitat for pest
organisms; and
(3) Cultural practices that enhance crop health, including selection of plant species and
varieties with regard to suitability to site-specific conditions and resistance to prevalent pests,
weeds, and diseases.
(b) Pest problems may be controlled through mechanical or physical methods including but not
limited to:
(1) Augmentation or introduction of predators or parasites of the pest species;
(2) Development of habitat for natural enemies of pests;
(3) Nonsynthetic controls such as lures, traps, and repellents.
(c) Weed problems may be controlled through:
(1) Mulching with fully biodegradable materials;
(2) Mowing;
(3) Hand weeding and mechanical cultivation;
(d) Disease problems may be controlled through:
(1) Management practices which suppress the spread of disease organisms; or
(2) Application of nonsynthetic biological, botanical, or mineral inputs.
(e) When the practices provided for in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section are insufficient to
prevent or control crop pests, weeds, and diseases, a biological or botanical substance or a substance
included on the National List of synthetic substances (as amended by Farmstead) allowed for use in
organic crop production may be applied to prevent, suppress, or control pests, weeds, or diseases:
Provided, That, the conditions for using the substance are documented by the farmer, and it is used
as a last resort and never systemically.
(f) The farm must not use lumber treated with arsenate or other prohibited materials for new
installations or replacement purposes in contact with soil.

Winemaking Standard 205.207
(a) The farmer must be wholly responsible for the grapegrowing and winemaking
(1) All grapes must be grown on land owned or leased by the farm
(2) No grapes or juice may be purchased
(3) No professional outside consultant may be used
(b) Manipulative substances and practices
(1) The use of technologies such as temperature control, stainless steel, and oak barrels must
be used with the intention of preserving, not altering the flavor of the grapes
(2) Methods which cheat time, such as micro-oxygenation, heavy filtration, overfining and
reverse osmosis are prohibited
(3) Native/natural yeasts, often referred to as wild/ambient are the preferrred fermentation
catalyst; artificial yeast may only be used as a last resort to save a crop and never to
influence flavor
(4) To obtain Farmstead certification the wine must not be manipulated. Processes and
additives including, but not limited to tannin powders, wood staves, wood chips, acid
blends/adjustments, artificial color, ascorbic acid, enzymes, tannin extracts, yeast
nutrients, sugar, water, and alcohol adjustments are prohibited

Appendix
National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
Introduction
The National List is part of Farmstead’s certification requirements and is copied below for your
convenience. Our farmers are expected to use the allowed synthetic substances only as a last resort
when alternative organic methods have failed. Whenever possible, we have amended the list to be
specific to winegrowing and more stringent that the original USDA list.
The National List is developed - and periodically updated - by the USDA. You may also review the
National List on the USDA’s website.
Farmstead Wines is not in any way affiliated with the USDA National Organic Program.

National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. (205.601)
In accordance with restrictions specified in this section, the following synthetic substances may be
used in organic crop production: Provided, That, use of such substances do not contribute to
contamination of crops, soil, or water. Substances allowed by this section, except disinfectants and
sanitizers in paragraph (a) and those substances in paragraphs (c), (j), (k), and (l) of this section, may
only be used when the provisions set forth in 205.206 (a) through (d) prove insufficient to prevent
or control the target pest.
(a) As algicide, disinfectants, and sanitizer.
(1) Alcohols.
(i) Ethanol.
(ii) Isopropanol.
(2) Chlorine materials - Except, That, residual chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed
the maximum residual disinfectant limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
(b) As compost feedstocks.
Newspapers or other recycled paper, without glossy or colored inks.
(c) As animal repellents.
Soaps, ammonium - for use as a large animal repellant only, no contact with soil or edible portion of
crop.
(d) As insecticides (including acaricides or mite control).
(1) Elemental sulfur.
(2) Lime sulfur - including calcium polysulfide.
(3) Oils, horticultural - narrow range oils as dormant, suffocating, and summer oils.
(4) Sticky traps/barriers.
(e) As insect management.
Pheromones.
(f) As rodenticides.
(1) Sulfur dioxide - underground rodent control only (smoke bombs).
(2) Vitamin D3.
(g) As slug or snail bait - None.
(h) As plant disease control.
(1) Coppers, fixed - copper hydroxide, copper oxide, copper oxychloride, includes products
exempted from EPA tolerance, Provided, That, copper-based materials must be used in a
manner that minimizes accumulation in the soil and shall not be used as herbicides.
(2) Copper sulfate - Substance must be used in a manner that minimizes accumulation of
copper in the soil.
(3) Hydrated lime.
(4) Hydrogen peroxide.
(5) Lime sulfur.
(6) Oils, horticultural, narrow range oils as dormant, suffocating, and summer oils.
(i) As plant or soil amendments.
(1) Aquatic plant extracts (other than hydrolyzed) - Extraction process is limited to the use
of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide; solvent amount used is limited to that amount
necessary for extraction.
(2) Elemental sulfur.
(3) Humic acids - naturally occurring deposits, water and alkali extracts only.
(4) Lignin sulfonate - chelating agent, dust suppressant, floatation agent.
(5) Magnesium sulfate - allowed with a documented soil deficiency.
(6) Micronutrients - not to be used as a defoliant, herbicide, or desiccant. Those made from
nitrates or chlorides are not allowed. Soil deficiency must be documented by testing.
(i) Soluble boron products.
(ii) Sulfates, carbonates, oxides, or silicates of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum,
selenium, and cobalt.
(7) Liquid fish products - can be pH adjusted with sulfuric, citric or phosphoric acid. The
amount of acid used shall not exceed the minimum needed to lower the pH to 3.5.
(8) Vitamins, B1, C, and E.
Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production. (205.602)
The following nonsynthetic substances may not be used in organic crop production:
(a) Ash from manure burning.
(b) Arsenic.
(c) Calcium chloride, brine process is natural and prohibited for use except as a foliar spray to treat a
physiological disorder associated with calcium uptake.
(d) Lead salts.
(e) Potassium chloride - unless derived from a mined source and applied in a manner that minimizes
chloride accumulation in the soil.
(f) Sodium fluoaluminate (mined).
(g) Sodium nitrate
(h) Strychnine.
(i) Tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate).

Sample questionnaire
Wine Description:
year
region
grape varietals
reason for name selection
reserve: yes / no
difference from previous years
other tasting notes
pairing recommendations
General Vineyard Description:
average length of the ripening season
normal annual weather conditions / temperature
soil type
soil chemistry
drainage
topography
average sun exposure
pest problems
vine variety
vine density
crop load
Cultivation Decisions:
row direction and spacing
irrigation methods
frost protection methods
vine training system
fertilization
pest control management
canopy management
harvesting (hand / machine / other)
pruning (hand / machine / other)
Wine Preparation Decisions:
Wine Must Preparation: screw / hand / machine
Must Microorganism Protection: sulfites /
Fermentation Ingredients: yeast / specialized nutrients / sugar / tannic acid / other acids /
water
Primary Fermentation methods: containers / heat source
Secondary Fermentation methods: containers/ transfer vessels / sediment skimming
mechanism / heat source
Aging: barrel type / transfer mechanism
Bottles: bottle type
Detailed Cultivation Decision Description / Options:
New vine development: bench-grafting / cultivated rootstocks / field-grafted
Soil erosion prevension / water drainage: vineyard layout (rows run across slope / up and
down slope) / diversion ditches / buffer strips
Vineyard floor management: no-till seeding of row middles / applying straw mulch to row
middles / other row middle treatment
Pruning Method: cane-pruning / spur-pruning (or head-pruning) / other
Vine training system: number of wires (2, 3, or 4) / configuration (vertical / lateral /
cordon) / other
Trellising Stakes: wood / metal / plastic / combination (specify)
Fertilizer: organic compost / document use of: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium
(gypsum), magnesium (foliar Mg), boron, copper, iron, manganese, sulfur, lime
Mildew Protection: sulfur (wettable powders, dusts, dry flowables, and flowables) / copper
fungicides (fixed copper or Bordeaux mixture) / SI fungicides / Strobilurin Fungicides /
Potassium salts / Locally systemic fungicides with curative properties / protectant fungicides
Pest Management: cover crops / soil tests / stem tests / split nitrogen applications / bird
netting / other pesticides
Weed Control: cover crops / other pesticides
Soil aeration: manual tilling / tractor tilling
Pruning Remnant: burned / composted / trashed
Frost Protection: smudge-pots / wind-machines / frost-protection sprinklers / other
Sucker removal:
Shoot thinning: tied to wires
Bunch rot Avoidance: remove leaves from around grapes
Weeds: plowed / hoed
Increase vine metabolism: long shoots trimmed
Sugar Level tests
Maturity and Ripeness tests