News

April 26, 2008

Winery Grows a Green Thumb

Parducci uses wind, solar power

Parducci Wine Cellars in California's Mendocino Country is toasting to the power of green. Parducci says it effectively transferred all of its energy needs to nonpolluting, renewable sources by supplementing its on-site solar power with Green-E-certified wind energy purchased from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

"Parducci is continuously striving to be America's 'greenest winery.' This is an active and evolving process that never ends," says partner Tom Thornhill.

According to Parducci (www.parducci.com), the annual environmental impact of the winery's 100 percent green power use is equivalent to removing 172 cars from the road for a year, or planting 242 acres of trees, or not driving a passenger vehicle 2,171,450 miles.

The winery received California's highest environmental honor -- the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award -- in 2007 for the company's efforts to combat climate change. The company works to put a cork in energy costs by using biodiesel tractors in the vineyards as well as earth-friendly packaging at the winery.

"We are clear about what we want," explains partner Paul Dolan, "an environmentally and socially conscious winery making great wines from Mendocino."