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Nonprofit land trust Tri-Valley Conservancy recently granted its inaugural low-interest loan for local vineyard replanting in an effort to support the wine industry and maintain Livermore’s viticultural heritage.
The first loan was awarded this month to Thatcher Bay Vineyards owner Scott Burkhart to replace half of his 16-acre vineyard in east Livermore, swapping out four acres of Merlot that bore declining yield and another four acres of Cabernet Sauvignon due to its surplus in the marketplace.
Available through TVC’s new Sponsored Replanting Program, 15-year loans are offered at up to $15,000 per acre to replant varietals suited to growing in Livermore, according to a statement from organization representatives announcing Burkhart’s award.
“There’s a lot of places that nonprofit groups can spend their money on and to spend money on making sure that vineyards stay in the Livermore Valley area is a wonderful thing,” Burkhart told Livermore Vine.
Thanks to the loan, Burkhart intends to plant three clones of Cabernet Franc — one of the Livermore Valley’s signature varietals — as well as Alvarinho during May or June of this year, according to the TVC website.
He expects the new vines to first yield grapes during 2029.
“I’m not sure I would have necessarily kept all of the acreage and grape vines without the generous support of the TVC, so I’m endlessly thankful to them for encouraging and supporting this,” Burkhart said.
Meanwhile, grape growers across the region have seen a recent decline in sales, according to Burkhart.
Wineries have enough inventory, which means they don’t need to purchase grapes for additional wine production, Burkhart explained. In effect, grapes are sometimes left unharvested on the vine.
At Thatcher Bay Vineyards last year, 70% of the grapes were left on the vine, Burkhart said.
“I’m glad to have this opportunity to keep growing, because I believe the wine economy is due for an incredible comeback,” Burkhart said in a statement.
A vital part of the Tri-Valley’s identity and economy lies in viticulture, Tri-Valley Conservancy Executive Director Rebecca Spector said in a statement. Similarly, replanting is a key to the region’s future.
“We launched this program to ensure that growers, who are stewards of both the land and the viticultural heritage, have access to the capital they need to keep this legacy alive,” Spector said.
The program remains open to landowners with conservation easements through TVC, with support from Aptos-based nonprofit FarmLink, a certified Community Development Financial Institution.
