Presentation on sustainability and green farming practices at leading wineries in Mendocino County, California. Learn more about Sustainable Business & Design at: http://sustainablelifemedia.com

1. Learning from Leading
Sustainable Wineries in
Mendocino County,
California
Ann Thrupp
Fetzer Vineyards

2. Sustainable Winegrowing -
Refers to practices in Vineyards & Wineries
A broad concept, often viewed as a goal
Sustainability
Economically
Viable
Socially
Responsible Environmentally
sound
Ensuring viability over time…benefiting current & future generations

3. What is Organic Farming?
- Definition -
Organic farming is “an ecological production
management system that promotes and enhances
biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological
activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm
inputs and on management practices that restore,
maintain and enhance ecological harmony.”
(National Organic Standards Board, 1998)

4. Concepts of
Sustainable & Organic Agriculture
Some people perceive these concepts on a linear continuum…
Conventional IPM Biointensive IPM Organic Biodynamic
UNSUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC & BEYOND
However, this linear perspective is somewhat narrow.
An alternative view reveals more complexity …

5. Relationships between
Organic & Sustainable & Biodynamic
Sustainable
Agriculture Organic
Biodynamic
“Sustainable”
winegrowing is a
much broader
concept, which
includes many
dimensions (to
be explained)

6. Learning from Pioneers:
Sharing Successful Experiences
Fetzer Vineyards is recognized Bonterra brand: Made from 100%
as a pioneer and leader in organically grown grapes.
sustainable & organic practices. Largest organic wine producer in
Annual Sales = 4 Million cases US. Sales = 290,000 cases/yr
Spreading innovation: We are actively involved in the
CA Sustainable Winegrowing Program & other outreach

7. Biodynamic Wine
from the Home
ranch of Bonterra
Vineyards -“The
McNab”

8. Background on
Fetzer and Bonterra
Vineyards
• Founded by Barney Fetzer & family in 1968
• Home in Hopland, Mendocino County, CA
• Bought by Brown Forman Corporation in 1992
• Main brands: Fetzer (Valley Oaks) and
Bonterra, created in 1993
• Sustainability is core to business and values

9. FETZER’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental
Responsibility
Social
Economic
Equity
Viability
e3 = “The Triple Bottom Line”

10. Walking the Talk ….
• Certified Organic Vineyards - 1,560 acres
• Comprehensive Recycling
• Energy and water conservation
• Renewable energy
• Green building
• Watershed & biodiversity protection
• Worker Safety & Health
• Community programs
• Greenhouse Gas Inventory
And MORE…..
Thrupp: Fetzer, 2008

11. How & why did this start at Fetzer?
• Fetzer established an organic
garden in 1984 with diverse
plants and foods, to pair with
wines
• Impressive results in food taste &
quality and soil recovery; so,
started using organic methods in
vineyards in 1984-85
• Results good, so expaned of
organic practices in vineyards.
• Now Fetzer (including Bonterra)
is largest grower of certified
organic winegrapes in CA

12. Common Myths about Organic Farming
• Organic farming means neglecting the farm
• Organic means being old-fashioned & out-dated
• Organic results in bad quality and low yields
• Using organic practices costs a LOT more
• All Organic producers are “hippy radicals”
These are generally
untrue myths,
especially for
winegrapes!

13. Basic Approaches for Growing Winegrapes
Organically & Sustainably –
• Elimination of synthetic chemicals
• Building the health of the soil (cover crops & compost)
• Conservation & enhancement of biodiversity
• Recycling of resources and nutrients
• Conservation of natural resources
• Using a systems approach to farming
• Protecting health & welfare of
employees and communities
• Maximizing quality of the
product (grapes and wine)

14. Management of Solid Wastes:
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” –
Started effort in 1990, aimed to reduce dump costs
Recycling has reduced our waste sent to the landfill by
96% since 1990 – from 1,724 cubic yards to 60 cubic
yards

15. Fetzer Vineyards – Achievement in Saved 3200 cubic yards
Solid Waste Reduction from going to landfill,
and saved over $220,000
2000 113% 4
1800 3.5
Million Cases Produced
cubic yards to landfill
1600
3
1400
1200 2.5
1000 2
800 1.5
600
1
400
200 1724 cy 96% 0.5
0 60 cy 0
1990 1992 2000 2005

16. Energy Conservation
• Installation of many
different methods to
conserve electricity,
natural gas, propane
and diesel
• The RESULTS:
Estimated Over 1
Megawatt of savings in
electricity Example: Insulation “Jackets”
on white wine tanks – reduces
AND mitigation of energy use by approximately
climate change 30% in tank room.

17. Renewable Energy
1. Green Energy - Fetzer was first CA winery to
purchase 100% renewable energy - in 1998
2. Solar Power for Administration Building - 1999
 40 kW photovoltaic system; 55,000 kWh a year;
capacity to provide 75% of building’s energy use
3. Solar Power for bottling facility - 2006
 899 kW photovoltaic system: Largest in CA wine
industry; potential to provide 80% of energy in
bottling facility
These energy practices reduce our GHG emissions
and impacts on climate change

18. - 899 kW photovoltaic system (2006)
- RV-MMA buys, installs, operates system
- Fetzer Vineyards buys electricity generated
- Long-term contractual arrangement

19. Alternative energy and efficiency in
transport and vineyard operations
• Biodiesel used in some tractors and big-rig trucks
– Made from vegetable/soy sources
– Reduces dependency on oil
– Reduces CO2 emissions and pollution
• Carpools for employees
• Improved efficiency for truck travel (trucks don’t
travel empty)
• Electric vehicles for
on-site maintenance

20. Green House Gas Inventory of winery &
starting carbon study in vineyards
• Brown Forman joined the California Climate
Action Registry (CCAR) in late 2006
• Undertook a very comprehensive analysis of
GHG emissions in winery operations, (2006-07)
• Fetzer is beginning a study with UC Davis to
evaluate the carbon stocks (sequestration) from
vineyards and surrounding habitat/landscape

21. Green Building Highlights
• 1985, Red Barrel Room
– 90,000 sq ft, earth berm
around sides eliminates the
needs for a cooling system.
• 1992, Cellars
– wall between fermenting
areas, saving over 75,000
kW a year.
• 1996, Admin Building
– Dirt walls, recycled wood,
energy efficient lighting,
motion sensors, wool
carpet, night air cooling,
ecofriendly insulation, and
solar panels
Thrupp: Fetzer, 2007

22. New Lighter-weight Bottle Innovation
• New Initiative! 2008 -
developing lighter-weight
bottles for use in Fetzer
bottling facility
• IMPACT: will reduce fuel use,
materials in production, GHG
emissions, and overall
environmental impact (We are
calculating expected impacts.)

23. Water Conservation
• Source - mainly from Russian River
– Share w/fish, farmers, families
• Pump and treat water onsite
– Use ultraviolet filtration in place of chlorine
• Drip Irrigation in Vineyards
- Irrigation timing is done according to analysis of
soil moisture & vine water status
• Measure to manage: Continual efforts
to conserve water
• Winery Wastewater- treated,
held & reused on vineyards

24. Conservation of Habitat and Biodiversity
in vineyards and landscape:
Examples from Bonterra Vineyards

25. Conserving biodiverse habitat attracts
hundreds of raptors, owls, & beneficial snakes
and other wildlife (deer, coyotes, bobcats, etc.)
Thrupp: Fetzer, 2007

26. Additional Animal Biodiversity – McNab
ranch biodynamic approach
Chickens graze between vines: eat
cutworms, beetles and weeds, Sheep used for weed
scratch/loosen soil, leave manure management, especially
effective in hillsides

27. Watershed Restoration
at Fetzer & Bonterra Vineyards
• Watershed
conservation & creek
restoration projects
- Dooley Creek -1994 & 04
- McNab creek - 2004
• Collaboration &
funding with
government agencies
- cost share programs

28. HUMAN ELEMENTS – “EQUITY”
“The soul of the company is found in the
hearts of its people” (Paul Dolan)
• Rewarding creativity: Encourage
employees to pursue new ideas
• Employee educational
opportunities for advancement
• Employee programs: English as a
Second Language, car-pools, etc.
• Awards for E3 accomplishments
• Unique Safety & Health Program
• Community & charity programs:
scholarships, river cleanup, etc.

29. Outreach, Opportunity
• Fetzer and Bonterra have many
awards for outstanding envir-
onmental performance & wines
• Brown-Forman integrating
sustainability in all other brands.
• Great interest and involvement in
green practices by growers and
wineries in Mendo and beyond
• Fetzer participates in education &
outreach to other growers,
wineries, public; collaborates
with scientists, educators,
regulators, MWWC, etc.

30. Why Use “Sustainable” Practices?
Motivations and Benefits