The Sonoma vineyards were scorched by August heat, pummeled by harvest rains and beaten down by our mindless, economic collapse. At least we can drink great juice and commensurate with the vignerons.
I am building a large, straw bale residence outside the city of Sonoma and ride to work through the Carneros every morning at dawn. Now, the vines have been picked, the immigrant workers have moved on (?) and there is an eerie silence. Except for a few frantic weeks during the entire year, the landscape is void of human activity. Yet were it not for the incredible hand work of the laborers (they pick at night with minimal lights to insure cool, freshness), we would not have wine on our table.
The Sonoma Land Trust was established to preserve and protect the richness of farming life and large parcels of undeveloped land. Although I am against the destruction of the existing orchard industry for wine production, I have also experienced the mindless sprawl of "housing developers". This is some of the best biking terrain in CA and a direct way to experience preservation.