The Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing Movers & Makers Interview Series is a celebration of the individuals behind the sustainable wine movement on Long Island. These winemakers and grape growers are on the forefront of reducing environmental impact while investing in the future of Long Island wine. Each featured vineyard is LISW Certified, and each Sustainability Leader has a unique strategy for continuous improvement beyond certification. The fruits of their labor include reduced carbon emissions, healthy soil, delicious wine, and so much more!
Interview with Glenn Schunk, RGNY
RG|NY (formerly known as Martha Clara Vineyards) is a certified sustainable vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island which is owned and operated by the Rivero González family of winemakers. Their Mexican roots, deep regard for heritage, and family tradition of winemaking bring a unique perspective to the Long Island wine business.
Glen Schunk started working part-time in the tasting room at Martha Clara Vineyards in 2009 while earning his MBA at Stony Brook University. After graduating, he worked as the Assistant Tasting Room Manger and eventually worked his way up to Operations Manager. Through the years, he has fallen in love with the wine industry and aspired to work with wine ever since. As the Director of Operations at RG|NY, Glen helps support the front of house, as well as the production team, where he found his passion for sustainable winegrowing.
LISW: What inspired you to be a part of the sustainable wine movement on Long Island?
GS: Farming is an industry that has received a lot of negativity about caring for the environment in past decades. It is important that we focus on turning that switch all the way in the other direction.
LISW: What sustainability practices do you apply in your vineyard/winery?
GS: Typical sprayers for pesticides spray onto the product in the field, but also aerosolize a small amount into the air. This can travel to other plants and animals and have unintended consequences. We use a recycling sprayer to capture the aerosol that would enter the air, and recoup it to be re-applied to the vines as intended.
We prune vines in winter, cut grass in summer, and rake leaves in fall. None of this goes to waste. It is all chipped and mulched to provide a nutrient that we spread over our vines for them to have vigor the following year.
LISW: What are some of the benefits you see from sustainable winegrowing?
GS: We want our community to think local and drink local, and for that, we need to do our part in keeping the area safe, beautiful, and healthy. All of these tactics for sustainability are anchored in the betterment of our crops, air, soil, and water. With that, we ask people to consider buying locally sourced sustainable products to do their part.
LISW: What sustainability trends or technologies are you excited for in the future of Long Island wine?
GS: It’s a lofty goal, but the real target is for a carbon neutral operation. Integrating renewable energy into the vineyard processes would be a great step. Offsetting the carbon emissions from tractors and winery equipment would go a long way.
To learn more about Glen Schunk and RGNY visit: https://rgnywine.com/