Fetzer
Vineyards Honored A Second Time With Governor's Award
For Environmental & Economic Leadership
Brown-Forman Winery Repeats California
Governor's Recognition
For Enhanced Leadership In Sustainable Practices
Sacramento,
Calif. (Nov. 25, 2008); Fetzer Vineyards
has been honored a second time by California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger by earning a 2008 Governor's Environmental
& Economic Leadership Award. Fetzer was first recognized
by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2003 for its pioneering sustainable
practices.
Fetzer
VP/General Manager Cindy DeVries and Fetzer Manager of Sustainability
Ann Thrupp will accept the award in the new category of Enhanced
Environmental & Economic Leadership during a ceremony held
at the California EPA headquarters in Sacramento. Fetzer was
the only winner in the category, acknowledging the winery's
continual performance and ongoing improvement in innovating
new strategies of environmental and economic leadership.
"We're pleased that the Governor realized that leadership
means constantly striving to improve," said DeVries. "Sustainability
is not just a point of view, but a way of life, for everyone
at Fetzer Vineyards. It's the only way we know how to do business."
The
Governor's awards, established in 1993, are California's most
prestigious environmental honor. California EPA Secretary Linda
S. Adams, assisted by representatives from several state agencies,
presented the awards in eight categories to a handful of California
organizations that were honored for "sustaining economic
development while protecting the environment and conserving
natural resources." The new category of Enhanced Leadership
is specifically targeted at previous award winners.
Governor
Schwarzenegger is expected to join the 21 award winners for
further discussions during a reception at the Cal/EPA headquarters
where Fetzer and Bonterra wines will be served.
Wine
Institute President Bobby Koch recommended Fetzer to Governor
Schwarzenegger, noting a long history of initiatives that position
Fetzer as a successful business model that demonstrates the
sustainability practices the California wine industry promotes
through its Sustainable Winegrowing Program. Karen Ross, President
of the California Association of Winegrape Growers agreed in
her letter of support to the Governor, calling it an honor to
add her "strong and enthusiastic support" for the
award.
"Fetzer
Vineyards is unique within the very competitive wine sector,"
she explained. "Its core principle of willingness to share
what it has learned and go beyond simply being a model to being
actively engaged in the local and statewide wine community to
help others has made a huge difference in advancing sustainable
farming and winemaking practices in California."
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-1st CA) called Fetzer "truly
a leader and a maverick in the field" adding, "Fetzer
continues to improve and set an example for the most environmentally
progressive practices of any business that I know." "Representing
a district that is rich in green practices, I am constantly
impressed with how Fetzer Vineyards sets the bar," said
Congressman Thompson.
Fetzer
was honored for a wide range of programs including hosting the
wine industry's largest solar array, a new effort to reduce
the winery's carbon footprint by using innovative lightweight
glass in wine bottles, a zero waste approach to recycling and
waste management, energy and water conservation, community involvement,
and outreach in the wine industry to share best practices. For
detailed information on these and other Earth Friendly Wines
practices, visit Fetzer on the web at www.Fetzer.com.
Fetzer
Wines are marketed and produced by Brown-Forman Corporation,
a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer
products, including Jack Daniel's, Early Times, Canadian Mist,
Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Fetzer , Bonterra, Sonoma-Cutrer
and Bolla Wines, and Korbel California Champagnes.
For
Ann Thrupp, Manager, Fetzer Sustainability
(707) 744-7600 or Ann_Thrupp@B-F.com
We
Make Our Wine Responsibly. Please Enjoy It Responsibly.
(c) 2008 Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland, Mendocino County, California
USA