At Elk Cove, we consider ourselves stewards of the land we manage. Our sustainability practices start in our vineyards, then continue to our winery and the broader community.

In the Vineyard

• Salmon Safe certified vineyards
• Cover Crops instead of synthetic fertilizers (clover for nitrogen, grass to prevent erosion)
• Protect and restore Oregon white oak woodlands with guidance from the Oregon Oak Accord
• Goats and longhorn cattle to control noxious weeds.
• Biodiesel in all tractors, utility vehicles, and trucks
• OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) certified sprays only
• Dry farming. We use irrigation only during first 3 years of vine growth
• Healthcare, a living wage, and paid vacation for full-time vineyard employees

In the Winery

• Water and lees flow back to the vineyard, not to streams
• Hot water cleaning for most purposes to avoid over-use of solvents
• Solar panels offset 30-40% of energy usage
• We recycle glass, cardboard, batteries as well as all shipping materials from our bottle suppliers.
• Recycled cardboard for shipping wine. No polystyrene!
• Eco-Glass for over 50% of our bottles. Lower-weight bottles require less energy and carbon.
• Electric car chargers free to our customers on a first-come-first-served basis. (CS-100 Clipper Creek 70/80 amps, J1772 universal plug and Tesla charger)

Elk Cove has been recognized as a sustainable vineyard and winery by the Slow Wine Guide to US wineries that are “good, clean and fair.” We abide by the sustainability principles laid out in the Slow Wine Manifesto.

We believe that sustainability goes beyond our own acreage, so we contribute to several non-profits benefitting our community and our environment.