Sustainability is at the heart of this estate winery
Founder Jim Wyse is committed to balance well beyond that of the fine, world-class wines being produced. A kind of Hippocratic oath (“to do no harm”) underlies Burrowing Owl’s creative viticultural and enological practices. The varied and deceptively fragile desert ecosystems within the adjoining vineyards continually challenge the environmentally sensitive team at Burrowing Owl. Alternative pest control systems are the standard. Over 100 bluebird boxes and two bat nurseries invite insect-eating guests to stay awhile and dine in the vineyards. In springtime, ground nests of meadowlarks are protected by barriers to prevent farm machinery and vineyard workers from inadvertently destroying them. Snakes are safely relocated. Bears and big-horned sheep are discouraged from sharing the harvest but never harmed.
Today, with its dramatic vantage point in the middle of the vineyard, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is a winemaking facility that combines state-of-the-art technologies with proven, classic winemaking traditions. A gravity-flow system handles ripe grapes delicately, preserving their rich fruit character. Extensive underground cellaring capacity ensures that long-term barrel aging is never limited by space.
