Famous Napa vineyard goes green

(Sterling Vineyards) - “Sterling has long had a commitment to sustainable farming practices and a concern for preserving our unique Napa environment,” said Michael Westrick, Vice President of Winemaking for Sterling Vineyards. “The conversion of the memorable Sterling Tram to clean, renewable solar power just makes environmental and economic sense. This is another step in our overall commitment to increase our conservation efforts, whether through longstanding support of The Land Trust of Napa Valley, the launch of Sterling Vineyards Made with Organic Grapes or our membership in the global movement 1% For The Planet.”

There are 336 solar panels installed on the roof of the Sterling Vineyards Reserve Winery located at the bottom of the hill and throughout the winery grounds. These panels will generate enough energy to power nearly eight average homes and save 33 tons of greenhouse gasses annually or 821 tons over the course of 25 years. The system is equivalent to planting 11.3 acres of trees.

The solar photovoltaic system is expected to generate 93,727 kWh per year - an extra 20,985 kWh/year, which will offset other uses at Sterling Vineyards. The additional energy will supply power for the Sterling Vineyards Reserve Winery; fermentation, blending and storage tanks; bottling lines; the Sterling Vineyards cave as well as other uses.

Visitors to Sterling Vineyards will see the real-time levels of power being generated by the solar system, the amount of power the tram is consuming and the cumulative amount of energy generated or consumed by each on a flat-panel video screen located at the tram entrance. This screen will also educate visitors about Sterling Vineyards other environmental efforts including recycling, reducing water use and reducing waste to landfill.

Visitors can enjoy Sterling Vineyards wines, tours and views from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm seven days a week.

For more information, visit www.SterlingVineyards.com.

About Sterling Vineyards
Sterling Vineyards wine is produced by Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines (DC&E), part of Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O), the world’s leading premium drinks business. DC&E produces and markets premium wines from around the globe including Napa Valley, Sonoma, the California Central Coast, Washington, France, New Zealand and Australia. Brands include: Sterling Vineyards, Sterling Vintner’s Collection, Chalone Vineyard, Acacia Vineyard, Edna Valley Vineyard and Provenance Vineyards as well as the French wines of Barton & Guestier. DC&E is also a leading importer of classified Bordeaux and Burgundy estate-bottled wines and F.E. Trimbach.

More like this:

• America's 'Greenest Hotel' makes every day Earth Day
• New 'agritourism' webisode series shows the best local getaways for New Yorkers
• Californian vineyard shows us how to eat, drink and be merrily green
• Alcatraz Cruises launches nation's first hybrid ferry boat
• A new 'green' boutique spa comes to Napa

Tagged as:

Subscribe Hotels and Accommodations

Latest Headline

Bed and Breakfasts: fun, sustainable and romantic! Leading B&B website iLoveInns.com has awarded 14 traveler-favorite romantic Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns just in time for the launch of its new iPhone App, “InnTouch”. The new “Travelers’ Choice for Romance” award is based on candid guest reviews guests on iLoveInns.com, lending new insight into the mysterious qualities that make an inspiring romantic getaway. Full story

More Headlines

• London’s five-star Dorchester receives high honors for being green
• Sears Tower gets green with a new luxury hotel and makeover
• What is Sheraton doing to go green in Seattle?
• Fairmont’s new Green IT strategy: Evolving responsibly
• Where to take a ‘green’ Marriott vacation in Florida

Subscribe Destinations and Tourism

Latest Headline

New GPS-guided adventure-pedicab tours in America’s oldest city There is a new and innovative way to experience St. Augustine, Florida. GPS multimedia pedicab tour - “Shivers and Awe Ghost Ride” - enhance the haunted tourism experience of North America’s oldest city in an environmentally friendly way. Full story

More Headlines

• Colorado’s Gateway Canyons Resort challenges women’s minds, bodies and spirits with a wellness retreat
• Help protect the Belize Barrier Reef with the support of the United Nations
• Top 10 things to do in The Alleghenies this Summer
• Charlottesville, VA kicks green tourism into high gear
• Travel by train and see the world like never before

Subscribe Dining and Recreation

Latest Headline

Clean, green beaches are always good for family fun As families and beach-lovers around the country prepare to flock to the shored for the July 4th weekend, the Clean Beach Council has just released its annual list of clean and healthy beaches for “National Clean Beaches Week” - highlighting family-friendly beaches that are clean, healthy and above all environmentally well-managed. Full story

More Headlines

• Californian vineyard shows us how to eat, drink and be merrily green
• How can restaurants “go green” while cutting costs?
• Volunteer eco-travel meets Italian cuisine
• Eating green and local in Brooklyn
• Adventure travelers get chance to win Australian roadtrip

Subscribe Volunteer Travel

Latest Headline

Volunteer eco-travel meets Italian cuisine An 8-day Italian Riviera tour sponsored by sustainable travel group Peace Through Travel mixes volunteer travel and ecotourism; combining wine, language and regional cuisine with nature paths, volunteer excursions and inter-cultural social events. Full story

More Headlines

• New travel documentary scholarship to Vietnam from WorldNomads.com
• Volunteer travel is on the rise
• New Himalayan volunteer study program
• G.A.P Adventures and Planeterra gear up to celebrate Earth Month 2009
• Toyota launches a new travel program for teachers to promote sustainability in U.S. schools

Subscribe Airlines and Transportation

Latest Headline

Flyers choose green with a new flight booking tool Even in today’s rough economy, travelers are eager to put the environment first. A new and free online flight search tool has shown that, when given a choice, travelers typically choose carbon-efficient flights. Full story

More Headlines

• American Airlines demo flight curbs carbon emissions
• Biofuel flights arriving at an airport near you? Let's hope so.
• Obama: Traveling by car in the U.S. about to get a little greener
• Carbon-neutral airline wins prestigious eco award
• Getaway to Yosemite by Rail

Subscribe Fuel and Emissions

Latest Headline

Gas price incentives: A benefit for travel, or just fueling the fire? In today’s bad economy, travelers are still planning summer trips. However, with once-again-rising gas prices stopping some travelers in their tracks, can price incentives really help or hurt the travel economy? Full story

More Headlines

• American Airlines demo flight curbs carbon emissions
• Biofuel flights arriving at an airport near you? Let's hope so.
• Obama supports biofuel development and expansion
• Galapagos tour cruise company Ecoventura aims to be 100% free of fossil fuels by 2015
• New 100% 'Off-Grid' eco resort coming to California from Ramona Indians

Subscribe Research and Development

Latest Headline

UNEP lays foundation for Environmental eLearning Network in Africa Environmental authorities have teamed with 14 African countries to develop an African Environmental eLearning Network in an effort to strengthen eco-education programs through technology. Full story

More Headlines

• Stimulus package explained: How it can help you go green
• World Oceans Day 2009: UNEP works to ensure cleaner oceans for a greener planet
• Element Hotels says the economy drives green travel, not the environment
• Fair trade tourism in South Africa gains ground
• New 100% 'Off-Grid' eco resort coming to California from Ramona Indians

Subscribe Products and Services

Latest Headline

Bed and Breakfasts: fun, sustainable and romantic! Leading B&B website iLoveInns.com has awarded 14 traveler-favorite romantic Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns just in time for the launch of its new iPhone App, “InnTouch”. The new “Travelers’ Choice for Romance” award is based on candid guest reviews guests on iLoveInns.com, lending new insight into the mysterious qualities that make an inspiring romantic getaway. Full story

More Headlines

• Get paperless airport guides and flight tracking on your iPhone with 'iFly' apps
• Microsoft steps into the travel search arena with a "Bing"
• Free fitness training for Kilimanjaro trekkers
• Locals know best: new online travel guides by local gurus
• New adventure travel website gives back to local communities

Subscribe Awards and Events

Latest Headline

London’s five-star Dorchester receives high honors for being green This year’s inaugural Green500 and Better Buildings Partnership awards saw the city of London’s greenest lodging and lifestyle brands receive commendation by London Mayor Boris Johnson. The awards were handed out to organizations ranging from travel, sports, arts, education, transport and more. Full story

More Headlines

• What is Sheraton doing to go green in Seattle?
• Building on a message of ‘Hope’ against climate change
• Tradeshows can be green, too! Travel meetings and events company gets nominated for sustainability award
• The 2009 Skål International Ecotourism Awards sets date for November
• Bike tour and adventure company wins Nat Geo award for 'Tour of a Lifetime'

Subscribe Society and Lifestyle

Latest Headline

Help protect our National Parks with a new video challenge The new “Your Parks Video Challenge” campaign, sponsored by the National Park Foundation and Olympus (the camera people), wants you to submit a video at Yourparks.com for a chance to win an exclusive trip to the National Park of Your Choice, an Olympus PEN Camera Kit, and more. Full story

More Headlines

• How to inspire kids to connect with nature
• Dartmouth's 'Big Green' road trip heads to New York
• Planet Green goes 'Blue' in August
• Locals know best: new online travel guides by local gurus
• Carbon offsets for students studying abroad

Subscribe Business and Politics

Latest Headline

Dubai tourism to reduce carbon emissions by 20% for 2011 The Dubai Department of Tourism is planning to reduce carbon emissions throughout its travel and lodging industries by 20% come 2011, focusing on the conservation of natural resources and sensible use of energy, water and gas. This marks the latest detail of Dubai’s sustainable tourism agenda, which it is building upon with its plans for this year’s Dubai Green Tourism Award to be presented on World Environment Day in December 2009. Full story

More Headlines

• How are LEED standards getting more energy-serious?
• Charlottesville, VA kicks green tourism into high gear
• TRX delivers carbon tracking solutions to booking tools
• Florida's Green Lodging Program: Only the good die young
• Green business travel events and meetings gets an eco-incentive with tree planting initiatives

Subscribe Books and Publications

Latest Headline

Learn how to explore history with a negative impact The “Guide to Best Practices for Archaeological Tourism” highlights good practices for anyone interested in visiting archaeological sites, outlining practices that allow for proper, sustainable archaeological tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to fully experience ancient sites while minimizing any negative impact. Full story

More Headlines

• Should Earth Day be just once a year, or every day? Grist says "Screw" it
• Fodor's Travel Guide goes paperless with the ECTACO jetBook
• New Galapagos DVD: 'A Musical Odyssey'
• Clinton Global Initiative and others motivate kids to help save endangered gorillas
• 'Coming Clean' - new book explores how to break America's fossil fuel addiction

• Most Recent

Dubai tourism to reduce carbon emissions by 20% for 2011 The Dubai Department of Tourism is planning to reduce carbon emissions throughout its travel and lodging industries by 20% come 2011, focusing on the conservation of natural resources and sensible use of energy, water and gas. This marks the latest detail of Dubai’s sustainable tourism agenda, which it is building upon with its plans for this year’s Dubai Green Tourism Award to be presented on World Environment Day in December 2009.

New GPS-guided adventure-pedicab tours in America’s oldest city There is a new and innovative way to experience St. Augustine, Florida. GPS multimedia pedicab tour - “Shivers and Awe Ghost Ride” - enhance the haunted tourism experience of North America’s oldest city in an environmentally friendly way.

Help protect our National Parks with a new video challenge The new “Your Parks Video Challenge” campaign, sponsored by the National Park Foundation and Olympus (the camera people), wants you to submit a video at Yourparks.com for a chance to win an exclusive trip to the National Park of Your Choice, an Olympus PEN Camera Kit, and more.

Colorado’s Gateway Canyons Resort challenges women’s minds, bodies and spirits with a wellness retreat Nestled within the breathtaking canyons of southwest Colorado, “soft adventure” destination Gateway Canyons Resort will host the second annual Women’s Wellness Weekend on July 24-26, 2009. Headlined by award-winning naturopathic physician, Dr. Penny Kendall-Reed, this weekend agenda may be just what the doctor ordered.

Bed and Breakfasts: fun, sustainable and romantic! Leading B&B website iLoveInns.com has awarded 14 traveler-favorite romantic Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns just in time for the launch of its new iPhone App, “InnTouch”. The new “Travelers’ Choice for Romance” award is based on candid guest reviews guests on iLoveInns.com, lending new insight into the mysterious qualities that make an inspiring romantic getaway.

Sponsored Links