California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Highlights
Progress in Energy Savings

SAN FRANCISCO - To celebrate the upcoming Earth Day on April 22, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) announced a five-fold increase in the number of annual energy-efficient projects at California wineries and vineyards since 2005, when CSWA and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) began cosponsoring energy efficiency workshops designed for the wine industry. The announcement was made yesterday at LangeTwins Winery in Acampo near Lodi to a group of wine industry members and government officials.

Over the last four years, 359 energy-efficiency projects resulted in California wineries receiving $6.25 million in PG&E rebates and eliminated 30,371 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These projects have saved California wineries 55,310,681 kilowatt-hours (KWH) in energy savings, the equivalent of removing 4,226 cars off the road for one year. To date, CSWA and PG&E have held 25 energy management workshops that were attended by 750 wine industry members from around the state.

"Energy efficiency is one of 14 sustainable winegrowing areas that the CSWA program promotes," said Wine Institute President and CEO Robert P. Koch. "Since CSWA's establishment six years ago, 1,500 vintners and growers have participated in the sustainable winegrowing program, representing 60 percent of California's wine production and winegrape acreage."

"This is not surprising that there is such widespread adoption of sustainable practices such as energy efficiency because the wine industry is dominated by families and businesses committed to the land and their local communities," said President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers Karen Ross.

"PG&E applauds California wineries for their commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency programs that are producing substantial savings for the wineries," said Janice Berman, PG&E senior director of customer energy efficiency, solar, and product development. "Whether conducting energy audits or installing solar projects, California wineries are demonstrating real leadership in the fight against global climate change."
Since the CSWA and PG&E partnership began, the number of solar projects in the wine industry has also grown dramatically, with 53 grid-tied installations completed that have received $14.6 million of incentives from PG&E, and another 49 projects currently in the works.

A highlight of the CSWA Earth Day celebration was PG&E's presentation of $968,137 in rebates to LangeTwins Winery for its most recent energy efficiency and solar projects. The winery partnered with PG&E's Savings by Design program, which included features such as a gravity flow design for movement of the grapes, high-efficiency lighting, water chiller and water boiler, insulated wine tanks, variable frequency drives on air compressors and well pumps, and an efficient wastewater treatment system.

"Our family has been farming for generations and we want to pass on a sustainable business to the next generation," said Randy Lange of LangeTwins Winery. "Switching to renewable energies and operating with the environment in mind is part of the equation."

LangeTwins Winery participates in the statewide CSWA Sustainable Winegrowing Program as well as the regional Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing, sponsored by the Lodi Winegrape Commission. Regional wine associations have been leaders in the sustainability trend and worked with CSWA in gaining wide adoption of these practices.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

About California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
CSWA is a San Francisco-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated in 2003 created by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to promote and implement the sustainable winegrowing program. CSWA encourages adoption of vineyard and winery practices that are sensitive to the environment, responsive to the needs and interests of society-at-large, and economically feasible to implement and maintain. Visit: www.sustainablewinegrowing.org.

About Wine Institute
Established in 1934, the Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,100 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiate and advocate state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The membership represents 85 percent of U.S. production and 90 percent of U.S. wine exports. See: www.wineinstitute.org.

About The California Association of Winegrape Growers
Established in 1974, the California Association of Winegrape Growers represents the growers of more than 50 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. The statewide association is an advocate for farmers, providing leadership on public policies, research and education programs, sustainable farming practices and trade policy to enhance the California winegrape growing business and communities. Visit www.cawg.org.

About Lodi Winegrape Commission
Established in 1991, the Lodi Winegrape Commission conducts programs in marketing, grower education and viticultural research. The Commission represents almost 800 winegrowers farming nearly 80,000 acres of winegrapes and works to raise the awareness of Lodi and enhance the recognition of the Lodi-Woodbridge wine region. See: www.lodiwine.com.

About Pacific, Gas & Electric Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/about/.

About LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards
As a fifth generation family farm, LangeTwins is dedicated to improving its techniques in the vineyard and winery to make the best and most sustainable wines possible. In 2005 after generations of focusing on growing quality winegrapes, LangeTwins expanded the farm to include a state-of-the-art winery in Acampo. The winery produces its own LangeTwins label and also offers custom-crush services. See: www.langetwins.com.