Sustaining Sustainability In A Napa Valley Winery

One of the most significant issues humanity faces is constantly finding ways to be environmentally-minded, and that concern has gripped the vineyard industry. While many vineyard production practices are ancient, many modern manufacturing processes are relatively new and hardly earth-friendly, most notably soil depletion and abuse of other natural resources. There are several ongoing issues that many vineyards must deal with, not only to comply with environmental certifications but also to ensure that the land and resources are preserved for future generations.

Where Things Begin

The main issues a sustainable winery may face include:

●The increasing cost of energy: prices continue to rise in the energy realm, and unfortunately, many vineyards consume astronomical amounts of energy.

●Water shortages: especially in California, where many devastating fires have pillaged large parts of the state, consideration for appropriate water reserves has become integral to California’s safety. During fire emergencies, water is inevitably significantly reduced or shut off entirely, proving to be incredibly detrimental to the grapes and eventual harvest.

●Climate change: shifts in weather patterns make for unpredictable growing seasons.

●Soil recovery: after cycles of plants being grown in the soil, vineyards must leave them to rest and recover nutrients.

●Exposure to harmful chemicals and other spray agents: while many wince at the thought of chemicals, they keep pests at bay. As vineyards transition to more environmentally practical ways of preserving their grapes, investment in environmentally-friendly technologies must be developed, though at a high cost.

As much as there are challenges aplenty when making human practices more environmentally-friendly, there is also invention and innovation, which has helped modernize and even improve vineyards’ business. There are large mountains to climb and much to learn, but the future looks bright, especially considering all the initiatives California vineyards are involved with.

Now is the time for vineyards to walk-the-talk when it comes to being environmentally friendly.

Creating an Environmentally-Friendly Vineyard

●Talk about it: A truly dedicated sustainable winery in Rutherford is usually delighted to share the various environmentally friendly strategies on tours. By disseminating important information about the practice of less ecologically-destructive approaches, vineyards and their visitors are inspired and continue to innovate within their own lives. Identifying as a Rutherford winery holds a level of responsibility. Being a community member means making a concerted commitment to protect resources for ecological wellness and future generations’ posterity.

●Many companies belong to the CCSW, an organization dedicated to sustainability in California in the vineyard industry. This organization centers its belief around the idea of good for the:
-environment: thanks to the fact that winegrowing helps retain specific natural resources, significantly improving the quality of water and air. Most notably, it also protects a variety of wild spaces.
-community: enables the whole community to be protectors of open space and natural resources. Environmentally-friendly practices also improve the lives of employees and neighbors alike.
-grapes and wines: practices based around environmentally-minded environments require extensive attention to detail, but the thorough process is undoubtedly worth it because wines from California are some of the world’s best.

●Go Green: Certified Green, that is. Participation in the comprehensive environmental certification and program is challenging but worth it. It also includes holistic practices sprinkled on throughout the entire process. Because this certification called for independent evaluation, it’s one of the most intense accreditations within the industry, and it calls for consistent improvement to be granted renewal.

●The Wine Institute is not a college everyone is eager to attend. Instead, it’s an organization that champions environmentally friendly practices in California, and is a significant influencer in the industry. The institute champions: water efficiency, energy efficiency, pest management, soil health, waste management, wildlife habitat, and supply chain contributions.

●An unwavering commitment to green land: many vineyards have turned to greenery planting to cover over the crops that exist between each of the vine rows. Greenery aids it in creating a hospitable environment for beneficial bugs and insects, successfully contending with an assortment of ever-hungry weeds, decreasing the percentage of soil erosion, and contributing many essential nutrients. Consistent exposure to the sunshine also helps products to build incredible flavors and colors, too.

●Take care of birds, specifically, Western bluebirds. Boxes have been set up around several properties to draw in the habitation of the birds. There are also owl boxes, and in another blow to burrowing critters who can be incredibly destructive on the vineyard property, there is a healthy rattlesnake population.

Practical Solutions

Committees and plans set the tone for environmentally-minded living, but executing actual strategies are what makes all the difference. Popular practical solutions include:

●Reusing liquid storage barrels and bottle return projects that can lead to rebottling.

●Bag in a box serving solutions, made with recycled cardboard and biodegradable lining.

●Serving beverages on-tap instead of bottled.

●Finding a delicate balance between removing pests in the environment with more natural anti-pest agents.

●Solar power panels and hydro energy: one of the things available in large quantities in California is the sun, and harnessing its energy to power vineyards markedly decreases energy consumption. Recycling water to power manufacturing machines is also possible, but both options can be expensive to install.

For any sustainable winery in Rutherford, the challenges are aplenty but the vineyard industry is working tirelessly to ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty of the California vineyards. There are many ways in which environmentally friendly practices continue to revolutionize the industry. Now it’s time to support and enjoy a Rutherford wine tasting.