We’ve been farming our estate and successfully growing grapes for over four decades. Our Legacy block of Pinot Noir, planted in 1978, continues to produce excellent quality and ideal yields. Reaching this success requires care and commitment to the land. 

Dry Farming

Our climate and geology allow us to dry farm our entire estate. The Willamette Valley experiences ideal growing conditions for the varietals planted on our estate. In addition, we have Willakenzie soil, which is moderately deep and well-drained. During our dry season, you might wonder how the vines are surviving. Willakenzie soil can require the vine to work for its moisture; the dirt is often dry and crumbly. The vine will grow its roots more profoundly and expansively below the surface, looking for water during these months, resulting in richer expressions in the grape (and ultimately the wine). 

Additional benefits to dry farming are the resilience of the vine and water conservation. When we experience vintages with less rainfall and higher temperatures, our vines have been trained to look for moisture deep in the soil, so they have built a root system that is less susceptible to drought or heat conditions. A California case study found that, at minimum, dry farming saves 16,000 gallons of water per acre. Our 42 acres of vines equals a minimum of 672,000 gallons of water saved per year. 

Compost & Practices

While the root system has beautifully expanded below ground for moisture, it requires a little boost of nutrients. We’ve found that not only do grape skins, seeds, and stems provide stunning color and structure to our wines, but they also make excellent compost for the vineyard. 

To prevent further nutrient depletion, we use an organic product to manage the grass growth at the base of each vine. When visiting our patio in September and the beginning of October, you might wonder about the bird noises among the vines. We have speakers in the vineyard to scare away the small birds that like to snack on our grapes close to harvest time. A local organization, Cascades Raptor Center, has also released raptors and homed owls in boxes around our estate. 

Bring Recycling Partnership

Our commitment to sustainability got a big boost thanks to BRING Recycling! Through their Rethink Business Program, this local nonprofit helps Lane County businesses, like ours, adopt greener practices with expert guidance and resources.

With BRING’s support, we’ve launched several sustainability initiatives:


ReCORK Program: Recycling natural wine corks to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning: Switching to chemical-free products for a safer, greener workspace.
Energy Efficiency: Upgrading to LED lighting to cut energy use and lower our carbon footprint.

Bring Recycling

ReCork Partnership

Beginning in 2025, Sweet Cheeks Winery became the first location in Lane County to partner with ReCork. The world’s most extensive wine cork recycling program, ReCork, collects and repurposes corks to help reduce environmental waste. We accept corks from our wines and any natural cork from the wines you enjoy at home. 

How You Can Participate
Next time you visit our tasting room, bring along any natural wine corks you’ve collected. We’ll ensure they’re sent to ReCORK, where they’ll be transformed into sustainable materials, such as shoe components and other eco-friendly products.

ReCork Website

Making an Impact

Here are a few additional ways we make a positive impact on the environment and our community:

  • Adopt-A-Road: we’ve worked with Lane County on keeping Briggs Hill Road clear of trash for over a decade. If you visit us in April or early fall, you might catch our team on the side of Briggs Hill picking up litter. 
  • Sanitation and Lighting: BRING Recycling has been an excellent partner in assisting our tasting room and property with more sustainable options for cleaning supplies and lighting. 

Join us this spring to see how we are working to make our environment and community a better place!

Join us!