Heller Estate Organic Vineyards

About Winery and Wines

Certified organic since 1996, Heller Estate has been a pioneer of organic grape growing in the Carmel Valley Appellation. The organic practices of cover cropping, composting, and water conservation drive the superior grape quality and signature Heller Estate wines. Heller Estate is dedicated to growing each and every varietal with respect for the soil, water and air and is proud of the minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Rather than employing chemical sprays, Heller Estate releases predatory wasps in the vineyards to keep the undesirable insect population low. These tiny wasps (not the human-biting species) attack the eggs of the leaf-hoppers, which are destructive to grapes. To provide a home in the vineyards for these natural predators, French plum trees have been planted around the property in which the wasps flourish. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs are also released to prey upon other destructive vine-damaging mites, creating an eco-balance in the vineyards. All the grapes on Heller Estate are grown in a chemical free manner. In order to receive official organic certification for its grapes, Heller Estate adheres to strict organic farming methods