Carbon Neutral Challenge for Oregon Wineries

The Oregon Environmental Council and the Oregon Wine Board have joined together to lead an initiative for Oregon wineries and vineyards to assess and reduce their carbon footprint, with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Globally, only a handful of wineries and vineyards have become carbon neutral.* Oregon wineries and vineyards – many of which have already adopted sustainable agricultural practices into their operations – recognize that climate change will have a significant impact on their ability to grow grapes and produce quality wines. The participating wineries and vineyards want to be a leader in addressing climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing a product that helps protect the climate. While the wine industry is not a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the state, it is directly impacted by climate change. By participating in this initiative, these wine industry leaders are demonstrating the important role businesses play in reducing carbon emissions and providing leadership within the industry.

Nearly 30 wineries and vineyards are currently participating in the Carbon Neutral Challenge Initiative, and many others are considering joining. The participants include:

• Abacela
• Amity Vineyards
• Annie Amie Vineyards
• Archery Summit Wines
• Argyle
• AtoZ/Rex Hill
• Basket Case Wine
• Benton-Lane Winery
• Bethel Heights Vineyard
• Chehalem Winery
• Cooper Mountain Vineyard
• King Estate Winery
• Lazy River Vineyard
• Lemelson Vineyards
• Mahonia Vineyards and Nursery
• Ponzi Vineyards
• Sokol Blosser Winery
• Soter Vineyards
• Stoller Vineyards
• Torii Mor Winery
• Troon Vineyard
• Valley View Winery
• Vidon Vineyard
• Vigna Giovanni Vineyard/Barbara Thomas Wines
• Willamette Valley Vineyards
• Winderlea Wine Company
• Wooldridge Creek Vineyard and Winery

What does the initiative involve?

The Carbon Neutral Challenge Initiative is intended to provide tools to enable wineries/vineyards to reach the goal of becoming carbon neutral by first and foremost reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the extent economically feasible, and then incorporating carbon offsets to reach the goal of carbon neutrality.

The first step is to calculate the greenhouse gas (basically carbon/CO2) footprint for the winery and/or vineyard operation using a tool based on The Climate Registry’s requirements. Once the operation’s carbon footprint is established, it is easier to identify the source of the major emissions and develop a plan to reduce these emissions.

The second step is to implement a plan to reduce carbon emissions in the winery operations by making smart, cost-effective investments and operational changes. The Carbon Reduction Plan should consider installing renewable energy systems on site, including solar opportunities identified in step one. The Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit, federal tax credits and Energy Trust incentives, provides financial assistance for solar energy and efficiency measures. Several Oregon wineries, including Sokol Blosser, Lemelson and Stoller already generate some of their electricity using solar energy. Energy Trust can support small wind, geothermal and hydro electric generating projects. Conversion to ethanol (E85) or to biodiesel (B99 or B50) fuel can also reduce emissions.

All participating wineries and vineyards are expected to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint via a combination of energy-efficiency investments and on-site generation of renewables as soon as feasible.

Who is providing support for this initiative?

Oregon Environmental Council and the Oregon Wine Board welcome and appreciate the participation and support of Ecos Consulting for providing on-going technical assistance to the participating wineries, as well as funding provided by the Bullit Foundation and Ecoworks Foundation.

For more information or to join the initiative contact:

Andrea Durbin, Oregon Environmental Council

Hester Yorgey, Ecos Consulting

Hannelore Buckenmeyer, Oregon Wine Board

* These include: Grove Mill Winery in New Zealand; Parducci Winery in California (Mendocino); Backsburg Estate in New Zealand; Elderton Wines and Cullen Wines in Australia, and Vina Santa Carolina in Chile. Other wineries such as Cono Sur in Chile and Sonoma-Loeb in California partially offset their emissions, but are not completely carbon neutral.