Parducci

What Are We Doing To Become America's Greenest Winery?

1st US Carbon Neutral Winery

Climate Change Science  |  Wine & Climate Change  |  Carbon Neutrality

Climate Change Science

Scientists know with virtual certainty that:

• Human activities are changing the composition of Earth's atmosphere,
• The atmospheric buildup of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is largely the result of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels,
• The major greenhouse gases emitted by human activities remain in the atmosphere for periods ranging from decades to centuries,
• Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations tend to warm the planet. (Source: US EPA)
   

According to NASA, the potential future effects of global climate change include:

• Increased temperatures,
• Altered rainfall patterns (drought & flooding),
• More frequent wildfires, evaporation, drought, erosion,
• An increase in the number, duration and intensity of tropical storms,
• Decreasing snow pack in the western mountains,
• Increased frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves (11 of the last 14 years were the warmest on record since accurate recordkeeping began in 1850).

Wine & Climate Change

Climate influences the style of wine an area can produce. Each type of grape (Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.) is generally grown in specific regions and narrow climatic zones for optimum quality. Just a few degrees increase in the average growing season temperature may make some regions unable to grow the top quality grapes they are known for.

Changes in average climate structure and variability have resulted in:

• Warmer and longer growing seasons,
• Warmer dormant periods,
• Altered ripening profiles,
• Earlier phenology (plant growth events),
• Altered disease/pest timing and severity,
• Changes in soil fertility and erosion,
• CO2 fertilization,
• Changes in water availability and timing of irrigation.

Average predicted warming and increases in temperature extremes by 2100:

• Indicate potential reduction of viable production acreage for high to premium quality wine by up to 81%,
• Viable growing areas will move towards coasts, upward in elevation, and northward. (Source: Prof. Greg Jones, Southern Oregon University)
  
  

What is carbon neutrality?

Being carbon neutral involves calculating the winery’s total climate-damaging emissions, reducing (‘mitigating’) them where possible, and then taking responsibility for the remaining footprint by investing in carbon credits.
 

Parducci Wine Cellars, the 1st Carbon Neutral Winery in the US

Parducci was the first winery in the United States to achieve carbon neutral status through a comprehensive program of third-party verified measurement, onsite mitigation and carbon offsets. “We must acknowledge that humanity’s actions are negatively altering the balance of nature AND that we have the potential to restore the earth’s health,” saysTim Thornhill. “Everyone can play a role in saving our planet.”
 

Measurement

Parducci partners with the California Climate Action Registry to calculate their annual greenhouse gas emissions. The Registry has developed credible green house gas reporting standards for organizations to measure, monitor, third-party verify and reduce their GHG emissions consistently across industry sectors. With this information the winery was able to take specific steps to mitigate and then offset their emissions.
 

Mitigation

Parducci’s annual energy use is the largest contributing factor to the winery’s carbon footprint (over 60%). This makes energy conservation the winery’s first mitigation priority.

Parducci’s mitigation actions include: Using 100%, non-polluting, green energy (onsite solar & purchased wind) Employee education Completion of an energy-efficiency audit of the entire facility in partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Winery and warehouse lighting retrofit Replacing old machinery with energy efficient models Investing in new tank insulation Replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescents in the office, tasting room & winery Using bio-diesel in company vehicles and farm equipment Bio-diesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions (less than half the CO2 emissions of diesel and no sulfur or aromatics) compared to petroleum diesel. It is biodegradable and non-toxic.

Parducci's onsite solar

Carbon Credits or Offsets

Parducci sponsors a diverse portfolio of carbon programs focused on green energy, biogas capture and forest conservation within its own bioregion. Partners must provide information on specific projects, have third-party certification, and support local communities (added bonus for helping family farmers).

Parducci going carbon neutral is the equivalent of turning off the power for 66 homes or removing 87 cars off of the road for an entire year.

Being carbon neutral is just one of the ways Parducci is taking responsibility for its footprint and doing its part to fight climate change. We encourage everyone join us and make small changes that will add up to big savings for our planet.