Our Commitment To Sustainability: Water Conservation

Our grandfather Gene Trefethen’s industrial background and engineering mindset influenced the original designs for our vineyard when our family purchased the estate in 1968. While water conservation has gained recent attention, our commitment spans decades. Alongside our sophisticated infrastructure, we have implemented conservation-minded protocols, ensuring careful water usage in all our activities. 

Our two large reservoirs in the vineyard allow us to store water when it is available and use it only when it is needed. Our most sustainable source of water is right at the winery, where a central drain system captures both rainwater runoff from impermeable surfaces and all the water used in tank and barrel cleaning. This water undergoes a natural purification process in biological settlement ponds, rendering it suitable for storage in our large ponds and eventual reuse in vineyard irrigation. 

When it comes to watering the vines, we use as little water as possible, embracing a practice called deficit irrigation. This not only conserves water but also enhances wine quality. To know best when each part of the vineyard requires water, we use an array of soil moisture probes. These probes monitor water availability at different depths in the soil, providing us with detailed information that guides our irrigation practices. By limiting the moisture in the soil, we prevent the vine canopies from getting too lush and keep the grapes smaller, which provides for more concentrated flavors in our wines. In a rough analogy, it’s like what we know about ourselves: A little stress, but not too much, can be good for building character! 

We invite you to join us in water conservation efforts. Let’s raise awareness about the importance of responsible water usage, embrace sustainability in our daily lives, and celebrate the preservation of our environment. Together, we can create a greener future.