Sierra Vintner wineries continue with business as usual while taking a proactive organic approach to protecting their grapes after California agriculture officials recently discovered two pairs of the European grapevine moth in Nevada County.

"All wineries and downtown tasting rooms are open with an abundance of finished wine to enjoy," said Pilot Peak owner Lynn Wilson. "This ideal weather we are experiencing makes it perfect to come up for a picnic or tour one of our many locations."

Over the past few weeks, crews have been spraying an organic alternative to a standard pesticide and setting traps throughout the area to eliminate any potential moth larvae. The products being used are completely safe for the environment, degrade quickly and are non-toxic to humans. The spray is applied directly and contained within the plant system and, hence, only those insects that feed on the crop perish.  Consumers wishing to visit the area should have no concerns as spraying doesn’t occur on the weekends and the organic product is susceptible to degradation by sunlight. Most formulations persist on foliage less than a week following application.

Phil Starr of Sierra Starr Vineyard was recently interviewed by KCRA TV and stated, “This is something that we need to deal with and take the proper precautions in doing so.  I am confident that by finding it early, growers will be able to rid this pest before it becomes a problem."

Each weekend there are numerous local events occurring within the area and visitors are welcome to explore the many unique and diverse local wineries or the multitude of additional tasting rooms located in downtown Grass Valley and Nevada City.

For a complete list of Sierra Vintners wineries, including winery descriptions, locations, hours, contact information and area activities, go to www.sierravintners.com.