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Above: Vineyard Manager Brad Petersen at our Miraval Vineyard, Alexander Valley.
Employee Spotlight: Brad Petersen
As a child, Brad Petersen loved to ride his go-cart through the rows and avenues of Silver Oak’s vineyards. The son of Vineyard Operations Director Dane Petersen and his wife Margaret, Director of Human Resources, he grew up on one of our first estate properties.
Today, Brad still frequents Silver Oak’s vineyards in his job as Alexander Valley Vineyard Manager, but his go-cart has been replaced by a pick-up truck. “Every day is different – that’s the neat thing about this job,” he says. “One day I’m installing trellis systems, the next I’m walking the vineyards checking for pests, and the next I’m in the shop working on equipment.”
“Our goal is to be responsible stewards of the land and use it to its best potential...we expect to be able to farm this land indefinitely.” Brad didn’t immediately pursue a career in agriculture. After graduating from California Polytechnic State University with a BA in Agricultural Engineering Technology in 1991, he started a business restoring old cars. Just as he began contemplating a change, Silver Oak recruited him. Today, Brad lives near Cloverdale with his wife, Lori, and their son, Jacob, and restores cars in his free time.
Brad describes working with family as both challenging and rewarding. He consults with his father often in making decisions about everything from pruning to irrigation, and appreciates Dane’s experienced perspective. “He’s been in this business for over 40 years, so he knows what it takes to grow grapes that are of Silver Oak quality.” But when he dines with his parents, shop talk is off limits. “My mom tells us, ‘This is family time,’ ” Brad says.
One of the most gratifying aspects of Brad’s job is helping Silver Oak reduce its environmental impact by using sustainable farming practices. At both the Napa and Alexander Valley vineyards, cover crops are planted to improve vine balance and minimize erosion during the rainy season, and winery waste is converted into compost to increase soil fertility.
By monitoring vine water status closely, Silver Oak reduces the length and frequency of its irrigations, conserving both water and electricity. “This improves wine quality, because when vines are over-irrigated, they put their energy into growing leaves instead of ripening fruit,” Brad explains. “So having better information about vine water status helps us improve the flavor characteristics of the grapes.
“Our goal is to be responsible stewards of the land and use it to its best potential,” he adds. “We expect to be able to farm this land indefinitely.”
