This past week I extended a work trip to conduct some "research" at Davero Farms & Winery in the beautiful town of Healdsburg. While much of our research and preparation has focused on establishing grapes, Sarah and I have also desired to add some privacy to our property using olive trees.

Before scheduling my site visit, I spoke to owner Colleen McGlynn via phone and fielded her questions about our climate, soil type, and elevation in Columbia. When I arrived, it was no different. You see, Davero is concerned about applying biodynamic principles on their farm. This is reflected in their motto, "Grow what belongs here. Be patient." While I walked away with specific advice on olive row spacing (10x17), how they harvest using this Stihl tool, I found her convictions about exclusively growing Italian olive and grape varietals the most informative:

"...But what really matters is that our climate is Mediterranean (one of seven in the world), characterized by hot, dry summers with cool nights...Which is exactly like the Italian peninsula — and exactly the inverse of the climates of Bordeaux and Burgundy which have cooler, wet summers with warm nights, and are roughly 1000 miles north of where we are."