MEET OUR PEOPLE
Rod & Gayla Schatz
Peltier Winery & Vineyards / Owners & Growers
HOW MANY YEARS HAS YOUR FAMILY BEEN FARMING WINEGRAPES?
Our family has been farming winegrapes since the late 1950s. All of our vineyards are farmed under the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing program.
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES YOU IMPLEMENT IN YOUR VINEYARDS AND/OR WINERY?
In our vineyards, boxes are placed throughout the rows to encourage a natural habitat for owls who become the pest control for gophers and meadow voles. At our winery, we have a worm farm – really. The worms process and re-purpose wastewater for reuse.
WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF FARMING WINEGRAPES?
Government regulations.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’D LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT LODI?
Lodi has such a large diversity of winegrape varieties which allows the winemakers to showcase their unique winemaking style.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Rod: I am a pilot. Gayla: I completed my bachelor’s degree between our first child and second child. And Rod failed to mention that he is an amazing cook!
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ABSOLUTELY HATE DOING?
Rod: I hate sitting still, so I multi-task even when I’m driving. Gayla: I hate being the passenger in the car while Rod is driving and multi-tasking.
