Parducci

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

Water Reduction, Reuse & Recycling

The Importance of Water Conservation

"We live on a planet covered by water, but more than 97% is salty, and nearly 2% is locked up in snow and ice. That leave less than 1% to grow our crops, cool our power plants, and supply drinking and bathing water for households...most of which is in aquifers that we're draining much more quickly than the natural recharge rate" (National Geographic).

Water Facts

• With 83 million more people on earth each year, water demand will keep going up unless we change how we use it.
• Americans use about 100 gallons of water at home each day.
• Most of the world's poorest subsist on fewer than 5 gallons.
• 1 out of 8 people lacks access to clean water.

Water at Parducci: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Parducci Wine Cellars reclaims 100% of the water used in its cellars through a system of capturing, cleaning and purifying via an on-site constructed wetlands. The treated effluent is used for vineyard irrigation and frost protection and provides habitat to wildlife in the Russian River watershed. Designed and built (2006-2009) by Partner Tim Thornhill and Vineyard Manager Al White, the system conserves and recycles water 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Parducci Wetland Photo Gallery
 

Measurement & Reduced Use

The winery installed tensiometers that measure soil moisture in the vineyard, and 27 flow meters throughout the winery, the tasting room, landscape systems, bottling line and guest houses. With diligent monitoring and watering by need rather than by a pre-set schedule, Parducci reduced vineyard water use by 25% on one vineyard site alone. “If you measure, you can mitigate,” says Tim Thornhill.
 

Water Conservation

Through a mulching program that enhances soil composition and water retention, Parducci reduces drain on aquifers and ponds. Planted cover crops also reduce erosion, provide nutrients for the soil, and attract beneficial insects.
 

Constructed Wetlands

All wastewater from the winery (resulting from barrel and tank washing) runs through a parabolic screen to capture solids that are recycled into compost and used in the vineyard for fertilization and soil moisture retention. The gray water is pumped into a series of recycled tanks where settling and bioremediation (digestion) take place. It then flows by gravity through several bio-filter trickle towers and a stream system that naturally aerates the water.

The water then flows through Parducci’s constructed wetland, a series of channels planted with over 20 species of native grasses. These grasses extract metals and any residual grape sugars while adding oxygen to the water. Plants, animals, micro-organisms, and the environment -sun, soil, air- all interact to improve water quality. “This constructed wetland is dialysis for our pond,” says Tim Thornhill. “It polishes and purifies the water. This is an energy efficient, low tech, natural process.”

Next, several aerating waterfalls deliver water into the pond (3 surface acres when full). A windmill-powered pump, augmented by a series of small, low-power micro-diffusers, aerates the pond. The pond provides a habitat for diverse wildlife: migratory ducks and geese, egrets, raptors, owls, hawks, yellow-eyed herons, sandpipers, killdeer, swallows, otters, fish, turtles, and dragonflies. “It’s all about balance,” says Tim Thornhill. “If we create habitat, the wildlife comes.”

Wildlife adds to the health of the nearby vineyard by providing biodiversity and a natural system for managing vineyard pest populations. By working with nature Parducci is able to reclaim water for later application in their vineyards and use significantly less energy than conventional water treatment facilities to do so.

Learn More About Water...

• EPA Water Sense
• National Geographic
• WaterUseItWisely.com 
• World Water Day (March 22nd)