Frank Family Vineyards, part of the Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) portfolio, installed 800 solar panels at its Calistoga, California, vineyard. The company is working with Marin Clean Energy’s (MCE) Deep Green to power its winery, tasting room, and hospitality space, The Miller House, through onsite solar and purchased power.
This new array plans to cover around 75% of the vineyard’s power needs. The other 25% will come from the purchased sources, reaching 100% renewable energy use, the winery said in the September blog announcement. Most of the remaining energy will come from local wind power provided by MCE.
“We’re always seeking new ways to minimize our carbon footprint and carefully consider the impact every winemaking and business practice has on the land we care for and the community around us,” Todd Graff, senior winemaker and general manager, said in the blog post. “This investment is another milestone in our sustainability efforts, and we are proud to say 2024 will be our first vintage powered by the sun!”
Photo Courtesy Frank Family Vineyards
Frank Family Vineyards has stuck by a “Green to Our Roots” mantra that encompasses all ESG aspects of the business. The winery is Napa Green-certified, a Green Medal winner of the 2023 Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Award, a certified California Sustainable Vineyard & Winery, and Fish Friendly Farming-certified. The company grows grapes with biodynamic agriculture, implements various water conservation tactics, and offers several benefits for employees.
The vineyard claims the 573,000-kilowatt-hour array creates the annual equivalent of the electricity use of 53 homes, and Environmental Protection Agency calculations back that notion. However, it will be used only for onsite wine production.
The Frank family is also involved in other eco-friendly projects. The vineyard works with 4Ocean, an ocean cleanup firm that it got involved with as part of its Frank for a Cause philanthropic effort.
The work began in 2018 to support the Napa Valley community and intranational charities. Funds from Frank’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Carneros Chardonnay will go toward trash removal from oceans, rivers, and coastlines.
4Ocean, based in Boca Raton, Florida, has been cleaning up waterways since 2017, removing more than 39 million tons of plastic waste. Frank Family Vineyards says it has helped remove over 25,000 pounds of garbage across 100 beaches and rivers.
“As vintners, Rich and I believe that caring for our land is our deepest honor and most important work, and we are excited to continue Frank Family’s living legacy by supporting 4ocean in eliminating plastic pollution, one bottle at a time,” Leslie Frank, co-owner, said on the company website.
The latest ocean cleanup effort between the winery and 4Ocean occurred in late September. The crew spent two days cleaning up trash from Boynton Beach and Spanish River Park, saving species of marine life from dangerous microplastics. The vineyard also published a guide on how people can host their own ocean trash removal event.
Photo Courtesy Frank Family Vineyard
According to the winery, Frank for a Cause has also successfully saved 1,600 animal lives, planted 15,000 trees on the West Coast, and donated 200,000 meals to families experiencing hunger. Other initiatives include linking veterans with therapy dogs, wine sales funding tree planting through the Arbor Day Foundation, and working with the Humane Society to end animal cruelty. In 2023, Veranda Magazine named Frank Family as one of its 10 most sustainable wineries to visit.
Renewable energy is an integral part of TWE’s sustainability plan. The global wine group has inked deals with energy providers like Shell to power some of its other California wineries.
“We’re making strides in all these areas to achieve our global sustainability targets, which include switching to 100% renewable electricity by 2024 and net-zero emissions by 2030,” the group told The Business Download in a previous interview.
