Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
later, most of the trees were gone. In the 21st century, Carmel Valley agriculture is very much alive and well; it's merely taken a different slant. Since 1968, when Bill Durney established the first commercial vineyard in the Valley, the region's wine industry has been steadily increasing. That rise was helped along by the establishment of the Carmel Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) a designation spearheaded by Durney's son-in-law David Armanasco in 1982. Today, the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association says there are around 300 acres planted in wine grapes in the AVA, nearly rivaling the acreage that pears once claimed. Though it marks the end of an era of sorts, the loss of the Panetta's walnut orchard does have an upside, and the family is planning to get on board the wine grape bandwagon. "I've been told that the land is good for grapes because the walnuts enriched the soil," Panetta says. "Now we're looking at the ability to continue the agricultural tradition of the land and the Valley. The legacy lives on because the walnuts prepared the earth for the future. What makes Sylvia and me happy is that we can look forward and see the property still looking like a farm. That's what we want." In addition to losing the walnut trees, Panetta says he now must retire one of his favorite Washington quips. "When I was traveling back to Carmel Valley from DC, I would tell my colleagues, 'I'm going home to work with a different set of nuts.' Won't be able to do that any longer." C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 125 (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving ) (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving f (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving i (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving f (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving 20 (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving 8 (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving i (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving f (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving i (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving i (Top) The walnut grove from the Panetta Ranch, uprooted in the summer of 2018, was the last vestige of a once-thriving agricultural tradition. (Bottom) This mid-valley view, near Schulte Road, shows the region during its heyday. agricultural tradition. (Bottom) This mid-valley view, near Schulte Road, shows the region during its heyday. Photo: Carmel Valley Historical Society Photo: Jeff Ohlson