Business View Magazine March 2023

127 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3 Says Ruddick, “it was important to the owners to (qualify for) certified sustainability recognition from the very beginning.” This includes an emphasis on biodiversity, the elimination of chemicals, and water preservation. Hook and Ladder’s management is constantly vigilant of local creeks, streams, rivers, and the ecosystem in general, never allowing the vineyard edge to impose on them. The vineyard takes steps to avoid the contamination of waterways with soil, sediment, or pesticides. HOOK & LADDER WINERY “Protecting our natural resources, including our forests and water is critical,” says Ruddick. Customers are likely to notice wildlife roaming through the vineyards when they visit Hook and Ladder’s ranches. That is no accident. The vineyard has implemented a number of creative and environmentally conscious techniques to support local wildlife such as barn owl boxes and raptor perches. It promotes natural predator- prey relationships and reduces the need for environmentally harmful pest control techniques.