Cooper Mountain Vineyards shares three decades of organic farming experience with The Drinks Business
Thirty years ago, organic farming was far from the standard in Oregon wine country. It required a willingness to question conventional practices, embrace uncertainty, and trust that healthier soils would lead to healthier vineyards over time.
Recently, Cooper Mountain Vineyards was honored to be featured in The Drinks Business article, “Green Agenda: What to Know Before Converting to Organic,” which explores the realities, rewards, and challenges of transitioning to organic farming. The article brings together perspectives from winegrowers around the world who have committed to farming with the future in mind.
For Cooper Mountain Vineyards, the conversation is one rooted in experience.
Founder Dr. Robert Gross began transitioning the estate to organic farming in the early 1990s, long before sustainability became a widespread industry focus. In 1995, Cooper Mountain Vineyards became Oregon Tilth Certified Organic, and in 1999 earned Demeter Biodynamic® certification, becoming the first biodynamic-certified winery in the Pacific Northwest. More than three decades later, that commitment continues to guide every decision made in the vineyard.
As shared in The Drinks Business article:
“The future generations who farm your land—and the people who drink your wines—will thank you. In the end, organic farming isn’t about what you take away—it’s about what you build. Healthier soils. Healthier vines. Healthier people. And a healthier future for the next generation.”
That philosophy has shaped Cooper Mountain Vineyards since the beginning.
Rather than viewing organic farming as a checklist of prohibited products, the estate approaches it as a long-term investment in the health of the entire vineyard ecosystem. Cover crops, biodiversity, compost, and living soils all play a role in creating resilient vineyards capable of producing expressive wines while protecting the land for future generations.
The team also recognizes there is no single roadmap to becoming organic. Every vineyard presents different challenges—from climate and soil type to disease pressure and farming history. Successful organic farming begins with understanding the land and adapting practices to support its unique needs.
Today, every estate vineyard farmed by Cooper Mountain Vineyards reflects the same philosophy established more than thirty years ago: farming in partnership with nature, building healthy soils, and leaving the land stronger for the next generation.
Cooper Mountain Vineyards is grateful to The Drinks Business for including its perspective in this important conversation and encouraged to see more growers exploring the role organic farming can play in the future of viticulture.