Sustainable Practices

Our passion extends beyond the wines themselves to the place we live and work. Our family is strongly committed to being good stewards of the land, responsible neighbors and enlightened employers. To make great wine, you have to have great grapes. We firmly believe that the only way to do this is by keeping our vineyards healthy and thriving, which is why we practice sustainable farming.

Our practices include:

• Using soy-based biodiesel fuels in all our trucks and tractors to reduce fossil fuel emissions and our dependence on foreign oil
• Employing our vineyard workers year-round, providing them with living wages and comprehensive benefits
• Recycling all winery wastewater to irrigate our vineyards
• Using sustainable methods to remove weeds and prevent mildew
• Employing deficit irrigation techniques to curtail our water usage
• Recycling all pomace (skins, seeds, stems) to use as compost in our vineyards
• Harvesting in early morning rather than using power to cool the juice mechanically
• Practicing natural pest control – e.g., barn owl and bat boxes
• Restoring riparian areas to maintain and enhance aquatic and wildlife habitats
• Using solar energy to power our vineyard operations, our offices and winery operation

Real Time Solar Production at Trefethen