Earth Day Report

Each year on Earth Day, Frei Brothers releases an Earth Day Report outlining a plan to do their part in preserving natural resources for generations to come. Most recently, Frei Brothers highlighted ways to conserve a resource that is necessary to produce their award-winning wines: water. When it comes to making wine, water is the most crucial element, second only to the grapes.

Deep in the heart of Sonoma County, the team of experts at Frei Brothers Reserve has challenged themselves with the question: How can we do more, to use less water?

Combining state-of-the-art technology and a commitment to sustainability, Frei Brothers Reserve is pushing itself to reduce water use in the production of their wines in the vineyard and the winery.

Six Ways To Turn (Less) Water into Wine

1. Fight Frost with Wind, Not Water

Frost can turn spring's "budbreak" into heartbreak. In the past, vintners used to spray hundreds of gallons of water on vines to produce sheaths of ice, trapping just enough heat inside to protect the buds until morning. Today, wineries like Frei Brothers Reserve look to wind turbines. Now wind, not water, fights frost by circulating warm air.

2. Modernize Systems and Equipment

Through a series of retrofits and efficiencies in the bottling process, Frei Brothers Reserve has reduced the amount of water usage in the bottling process by 97.25% since 2010. In 2013 alone, 1.5 million gallons of water were saved, roughly the amount of water in two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

3. Use New Technologies to Solve Old Problems

Being smart about where and when to irrigate vineyards makes a difference. Frei Ranch uses overhead satellite imagery, soil electrical conductivity maps and soil moisture probes to accurately measure how the vines are growing and absorbing water. The technology helps vine managers precisely irrigate to the individual vine.

4. Protect Where the Water Comes From in the First Place...

In recent years, Frei Brothers Reserve has preserved 838 acres surrounding its vineyards, including 25 acres of seasonal wetland and upland bird habitat in Sonoma's Russian River Valley. These wetlands prevent soil erosion and provide a home for the wildlife that supports the winery with natural forms of pest control.

5. ...and Preserve Where it Flows

Frei Brothers Reserve works with the California Fish and Wildlife Department and the Sonoma County Water Agency to restore salmon habitats within the Russian River Watershed. It has donated $10,000 to install large woody debris structures to protect fish from predators. It also releases hatchery-raised salmon in creeks on the property.

6. Conserve Water as a Community, Not as Competitors

Cooperation has always been part of the California wine culture and it is evident today in sustainability efforts. Frei Brothers Reserve shares water conservation best practices with other wine growers, including attendees of the International Food and Beverage Environmental Conference and members of the Sonoma County agricultural and vintner community.