Admin Note: We’ve previously blogged about the virtues of Olde English Southdown Babydoll Sheep in the vineyards, this week John Alonge mentioned us in a San Diego Examiner article (a local/ national media outlet) about wineries and vineyards using environmentally friendly methods in running their operations.

“Right here in San Diego County, the Eagles Nest Winery in Ramona has purchased 3 Baby Doll sheep and put them to work in their vineyard…  Stop by and see them some time!”

Getting “sheepish” about vineyard labor

John Alonge – SD Examiner.com May 29, 1:00 PM

Baby Doll sheep are built close to the ground

Folks involved in the world of wineries and vineyards have focused a lot of attention of late on things like organics, biodynamics and carbon footprint. There’s a strong groundswell in the business to become better stewards of the land and to do right by the planet. What if there were a way to practice grass and weed control (very important in vineyards) while cutting fuel costs in half? Enter the Baby Doll sheep.

Baby Doll sheep were originally bred in Sussex County in England. They were first imported into the USA in the early 1800s. One particularity of the breed is that they grow to a maximum height of about 24 inches at the shoulder. What makes that fact critically important is that it means the sheep, when introduced into a vineyard for grass and weed control, are too short to eat the grapes off the vines.

This makes Baby Doll sheep ideal vineyard caretakers. They are left to roam freely among the rows of vines, contentedly munching everything growing on the ground while leaving the precious fruit undisturbed. Usually, weed control in vineyards is performed using tractors. Many vineyard operations use about half of their fuel on this single aspect of growing grapes. With a relatively small population of Baby Doll sheep present, the problem is solved in a very ecologically-friendly manner.

There are other benefits to employing the sheep, too. They provide natural fertilizer and can supply milk and wool as well. They require relatively little maintenance, considering all the advantages they bring to a vineyard. Additionally, the little sheep are cute as heck and their contented bleeting as they go about their business has a very soothing quality to it.

More and more wineries are beginning to introduce the Baby Doll sheep into their operations. Good examples are the Navarro Winery in the Anderson Valley and the Kiger Family Winery in Sonoma County. Right here in San Diego County, the Eagles Nest Winery in Ramona has purchased 3 Baby Doll sheep and put them to work in their vineyard. They plan on adding a breeding pair in the near future. Stop by and see them some time!