SAN FRANCISCO – The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), in collaboration with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and regional wine associations, is hosting a new workshop series to give wineries of all sizes the tools for self-assessment to make improvements in environmental performance and to lower overall production costs for water and energy use. The cornerstone of the workshop is the recently published Comprehensive Guide to Sustainable Management of Winery Water and Associated Energy, developed by Wine Institute and the American Vineyard Foundation, in partnership with the National Grape & Wine Initiative. The document provides tools for self-assessment and documentation of a wide range of practices related to water and energy use, including steps to reduce source water use in cleaning and sanitation; minimize use of cleaning products and other chemicals; decrease the volume and strength of wastewater produced and associated energy required for treatment; and minimize the water and energy needed for heating and cooling operations. Common methods for land application of process wastewater are described and basic system design guidelines are presented.
A pilot workshop was held at J. Lohr Winery in Paso Robles on June 11, 2008. Three additional workshops will be held throughout Northern California.
· January 30, 2009 in Sacramento from 8:30am – 2:00pm at the Sheraton Grand, 1230 J Street, Sacramento
· February 18, 2009 in Modesto from 8:30am – 2:00pm at the 3G Conference Center, 2612 Crows Landing Road, Modesto
· April 29, 2009 in St. Helena from 8:30am – 2:00pm at Trinchero Winery, 100 St. Helena HWY, St. Helena
Workshop participants will also receive information on PG&E energy efficiency programs including: free-of-charge winery energy audits, equipment rebates, and technical support services. For more details and to register for any of the workshops, go to the workshop calendar at http://www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/workshopcalendar.php . For a pdf copy of the guide and associated excel-based worksheets, contact info@sustainablewinegrowing.org.
The water guide – developed by Kennedy/Jenks Consultants and underwritten, in part, by the American Vineyard Foundation and PG&E – builds on research and other activities undertaken by the Wine Institute Environmental Working Group of the Technical Committee, which guided the development of this publication for managing winery water and energy.
“The guide demonstrates the California wine industry’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in sustainable winegrowing,” said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute. “Because natural resources are limited, the industry recognizes the need to be at the forefront of conserving and discharging water of high quality and using energy and other resources in a socially responsible manner.”
Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) introduced the Sustainable Winegrowing Program in 2002 to document and increase the level of adoption of these practices. A comprehensive workbook of best practices was developed, and over 250 educational workshops have been held throughout California to encourage expansion of the practices. The program has earned the California wine community numerous awards and a reputation as the wine world’s leader in sustainability. Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers established CSWA in 2003, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to assist with implementation of the program.
