Rome apples before harvest, 2001
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 hough it has grown beyond the family's wildest dreams, Dutton Ranch prides itself on being an independently owned and operated farm with no links to big corporate business. This is a point that Warren emphasized: "We are a family farm - that's it."
This family spirit reaches beyond those with the Dutton surname. The employees are part of a large extended family--some have worked at the ranch for over 30 years. Clients, neighbors and employees join in regular barbecues at the ranch, especially when long summer days and fine weather make conditions just right.
The members of the extended Dutton family count on one another. In 1993, for example, Juan Sanchez and Jose Aceves found they had outgrown the housing provided for them on the Dutton Ranch property. Steve and Joe Dutton, realizing their dilemma, offered Juan and Jose a partnership on the purchase of a 10-acre parcel with two homes. The two men, employees of Dutton since 1969, now have ample room for their growing families.
The Duttons have invested more than $500,000 in housing, Steve Dutton said. The Ranch owns seven worker homes and two dormitories-one of 18 beds and another of 38 beds. A second 38-bed dorm is planned for 2004.
"None of the guys who work here sleeps under a bridge or in the creek," Steve said. "They all have good housing with us, or live in apartments in town."
Barcaglia Lane Chardonnay Vineyard,
Spring 2001
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 arth-friendly farming is more demanding than simply letting the chemical salesman tell you what to do. But the rewards are many-cleaner and tastier grapes, safer workers, and a natural environment that will continue to thrive for many generations.
The Duttons safeguard the health of their fruit while reining in chemical applications and other intrusions on the natural farming process. Yesterday, today and in years to come, the chief influence on the flavor of their grapes will remain the prestigious Russian River Valley itself.
Given their commitment to green farming, the Duttons must monitor their ranches constantly. They employ an entomologist who visits every vineyard weekly, alert to leaf hoppers, mites, sharpshooters or other unwanted pests.
With early warning, they can undercut infestations without heavy use of chemicals-"we rarely spray insecticide," Steve Dutton said.
Instead, they consider the history of each ranch, the legendary coastal fog and other climatic trends, and the population of native insect predators. Then they make a choice for the lowest-impact intervention that will still achieve results. When chemicals are the only choice, managers primarily use Class III chemicals, the least toxic.
As the Duttons expand to new ranches, they often find themselves cleaning up after the sins of others, clearing creeks and hills of old cars and other debris. They make erosion control a constant priority. And recycling plays a major role at Dutton Ranch. Into the bins go all glass, plastic, paper, oil, batteries and card board.
The Duttons make common cause with other grape growers in fostering a sound environment. Joe Dutton is a board member of the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, and the ranch plays host to regular seminars on such topics as sustainable farming.
"We want to leave the land better than we found it," Steve said. "If we do just that much, I'm satisfied."
Chardonnay grape harvest, 1998
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 utton Ranch today is made up of more than 50 non-contiguous vineyards and orchards in the Russian River Valley Appellation-more than 1,300 acres in all. The Duttons manage another 30 vineyards for other clients. While the majority of acreage is planted in Dutton Ranch's signature variety, Chardonnay, the ranch is also well known for its Pinot Noir, old-vine Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Gris, and French Colombard. Close to 150 acres of Dutton apples are prized ingredients of the world-famous apple juice made by Martinelli's in Watsonville.
Dutton Ranch fruit is in high demand for a number of reasons: the renowned Russian River Appellation, painstaking and passionate farming, a kinship with the land, and choice rootstocks and clones selected for the terroir of each vineyard site.
Hand harvesting of the grapes at night has also proven to be a very effective way to provide fruit at its optimum to their winery customers. Harvesting the grapes before daybreak while they are cool helps to preserve the fruit quality and control fermentation, especially when working with Pinot Noir and other red grape varietals.
Steve and Joe during night harvesting
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 n 1974 Martin Ray Winery became the first winery to proudly designate Dutton Ranch on its label, closely followed by world-renowned Chardonnay producer Kistler. Steve Kistler, whose Chardonnays consistently gain 90 points and above in the Wine Spectator, bought and made his first Chardonnay from Dutton Ranch grapes in 1979. Other well-known winery clients display the Dutton designation on their labels, including Hartford Court, Sebastianii, Patz and Hall, Capiaux Cellars and Lewis Cellars.
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