Alpha Omega Vintners Donate Lake Berryessa Ranch Easement to Permanently Protect Agriculture
RUTHERFORD, CA — December 14, 2017
There are moments when a piece of land tells you exactly what it wants to be. For Robin and Michelle Baggett, vintners of Alpha Omega winery in Rutherford, that moment came the first time they stood on Monticello Ranch and looked out over Lake Berryessa. They knew immediately that this place was not meant to be divided, developed or sold off in pieces. It was meant to stay exactly as it was.
In December 2017, they made that permanent.
One of the largest agricultural conservation easements ever completed in Napa County was finalized on the 4,461-acre Monticello Ranch on the east shore of Lake Berryessa, the county’s largest lake. The ranch, co-owned by the Baggetts and Pete Craig, whose family owns Rutherford’s Sacrashe Vineyard, has been permanently protected from development through an agricultural conservation easement arranged by the Land Trust of Napa County in partnership with the California Department of Conservation through the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program.
The easement restricts future development on the land while allowing it to remain in private ownership. In practical terms, it eliminates the potential for all but one house across the entire 4,461 acres. Land that could have been broken up into dozens of ranchettes and sold to the highest bidder will instead remain open rangeland, oak woodland and wildlife habitat for generations to come.
The Land Itself
To understand why this easement matters, it helps to understand what Monticello Ranch actually is.
The property stretches across 4,461 acres of some of the most ecologically rich and visually dramatic terrain in all of Napa County. Large open grasslands roll across the lower elevations before giving way to oak woodlands and dense forested land that climbs from the shores of Lake Berryessa all the way up to the ridge marking the Napa-Yolo county line. The elevation changes are significant, the views extraordinary, and the wildlife abundant.
The ranch is home to bald eagles, hawks, osprey and a wide range of other raptors and wildlife species. Its location is not incidental to that richness. On the west, the property abuts federal land around Lake Berryessa. On the north, it borders another protected ranch. On the east, it sits directly alongside the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The Monticello Ranch easement effectively connects all of that protected land into one continuous, unbroken corridor.
Doug Parker, CEO of the Land Trust of Napa County, described the significance plainly: “Its location is very significant for connecting protected land into the large areas needed by wildlife. This easement connects together all this protected land, and it is a key step toward an ambitious goal aimed at protecting all the land on the east side of Lake Berryessa, 14,000 acres in total.”
The ranch also plays a critical role in protecting the watershed of Lake Berryessa, a key water source for Solano County, and the scenic landscapes that thousands of residents and visitors come to experience every year.
Why the Baggetts Said Yes
Robin Baggett has been cattle ranching for 34 years. When he and Michelle first toured Monticello Ranch, the decision about what to do with it did not take long.
“When my wife, Michelle, and I first toured this expansive lakefront ranch, we knew this land was a very unique place on this earth. Giving back is so important to Michelle and me, and we wanted to share this land, undeveloped, with generations to come.”
— Robin Baggett, Vintner, Alpha Omega
That philosophy of giving back runs deep at Alpha Omega. From supporting Auction Napa Valley to donating tasting room sales to hurricane relief efforts, Robin and Michelle Baggett have consistently looked for ways to use what they have built to benefit their community and the land around them. The Monticello Ranch easement is perhaps the most significant expression of that commitment to date.
For Pete Craig, the motivation was equally clear. A rancher himself, Craig sees the easement as both a personal and generational responsibility.
“With continued pressure from urban sprawl, large tracts of land like this are constantly under threat of being taken out of grassland production, not only eliminating the ranching way of life that has been around for 150 years, but reducing the ability of Mother Nature to work in combination with cattle ranchers to help fight global warming. I have already protected other land in the area, and this ranch is next to additional land I plan to protect as well. Having this land protected and dedicated to ranching will help us achieve our dream of a sustainable ranching operation next to beautiful Lake Berryessa. And it will allow my son, Will, the opportunity to follow in my footsteps, if he has it in him.”
— Pete Craig, Co-owner, Monticello Ranch
Recognition from Conservation Leaders and Government
The scale and significance of this easement drew recognition from conservation leaders, state officials and elected representatives alike.
“The Lake Berryessa region is one of Napa County’s great spaces. Throughout my career, I have done everything I can to support conservation initiatives that protect our community’s lands. I am glad to see Robin and Michelle Baggett and Pete Craig taking the steps to preserve Monticello Ranch for generations to come.”
— Congressman Mike Thompson
“We congratulate the Land Trust of Napa County and the Baggett and Craig families on the creation of this conservation easement. We appreciate the work the land trust does to preserve the productive agriculture of Napa County and to help maintain a viable agricultural economy in the region, and we are very pleased to be a partner in this effort.”
— David Bunn, Director, California Department of Conservation
“The Monticello Ranch easement is a superb example of the natural and working lands that the SALC Program aims to protect. We are thrilled to support the Baggett and Craig families and the Land Trust of Napa County in preserving this beautiful asset for the California economy and way of life.”
— Randall Winston, Executive Director, Strategic Growth Council
“This is one of the largest easements we have ever completed. We were very pleased to work with the State of California to complete this easement, and I especially want to thank the landowners, Pete Craig and Robin and Michelle Baggett, for their generosity in protecting this large ranch. They made a very significant and valuable contribution to make this easement happen, and we very much appreciate their farsighted commitment to conservation.”
— Doug Parker, CEO, Land Trust of Napa County
The Climate Case for Conservation
Beyond its natural beauty and ranching heritage, the Monticello Ranch easement carries real and measurable climate benefits that align with California’s broader environmental goals.
By keeping the land in active ranching rather than allowing it to be converted to housing development, the property avoids the significant ongoing greenhouse gas emissions that construction and suburban land use would generate. The forested sections of the ranch will continue to do what forests do best: pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it in living trees, year after year.
The easement was funded in part through the SALC Program, which is part of California Climate Investments. That program uses proceeds from the State’s Cap and Trade auctions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while delivering environmental, economic and community health benefits across California. In this case, those benefits extend to watershed protection, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat preservation and the long-term viability of Napa County’s agricultural economy.
For the Baggetts, who have long held Napa Green certification for both their land and their winery, the easement is a natural extension of values they have held since founding Alpha Omega in 2006. Sustainability is not a marketing position at Alpha Omega. It is a practice, and Monticello Ranch is its largest expression yet.
About Alpha Omega
Founded in 2006 by Robin and Michelle Baggett, Alpha Omega began as a direct-to-consumer pioneer and now sells 95% of its wine through this channel. Located on Highway 29 in the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, Alpha Omega produces world-class, Bordeaux-style, handcrafted wines made with grapes from prized, historic vineyards. Winemaker Jean Hoefliger and consulting winemaker Michel Rolland craft each vintage with meticulous care.
With its landmark fountains, tranquil pond and stunning views of the Mayacamas Mountains and vineyards, the winery exudes a sense of place and offers hospitality reflective of the farming community. Alpha Omega’s land and winery are Napa Green certified.
