Sonoma Wine Company

Graton, California

Sonoma Wine CompanySonoma Wine Company of Graton, CA, is realizing nearly a quarter million dollars in annual energy savings as a result of an integrated design process coordinated with their local utility, PG&E. The firm, founded in 2003, offers crush-bottle custom winemaking services to the wine industry. Back then, Sonoma Wine had a annual bottling production of 1.5 million cases serving more than 30 wineries, in addition to the production of their own wine brands.

Recently, Sonoma wanted to double their capacity to 3 million cases a year and knew that achieving the goal required reducing energy and water use without increasing the footprint of their winery or wastewater treatment pond. PG&E helped Sonoma Wine apply for various energy efficiency programs to upgrade equipment, lighting and reduce energy and water use. The incentives allowed return on investments from six months to five years.

The first step in the upgrade and expansion process was to perform energy, water and wastewater audits. Sonoma Wine contracted with PG&E’s food and agriculture incentive program, which offers design assistance for upgrades or new construction. The program provided a consulting engineer who analyzed all winery processes and practices to identify energy and water use and devise a reduction plan which was implemented over a two-year period.

The plan included installation of T-8 fluorescent fixtures with electronic ballasts, solar tubes to enhance daylighting, and occupancy sensors to optimize lighting control. Insulation was increased in ceilings and walls, the water heater and pipes were insulated, reflective “cool” roofing was added. Most importantly, manufacturing process changes were implemented.

Employee awareness programs helped overcome the initial resistance to measuring and benchmarking energy and water usage. According to Natasha Granoff, director of business development, the departments now compete to achieve higher levels of reduction and new reduction strategies, partially in appreciation of their improved working conditions. Ms. Granoff also stressed that measurement and metrics were key to the program. “You cannot manage what you cannot measure,” she said.

The Sonoma Wine energy reduction program has earned media attention with various articles about their unique process. They have also been recognized as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leader for pledging to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15% before 2010.

Overall, Sonoma Wine Company is saving more than 1,288,000 kWh of electricity and 54,400 therms of natural gas each year. That's about $246,600 in annual savings and 2.8 million pounds of CO2 emissions prevented From being released into the atmosphere.

Collaboration Recognition

  • Rosenblum Environmental Engineering
  • Viewcraft, LLC
  • Pacific Gas & Electric, Design Incentive Program)