Fetzer Vineyards Recognized For Sustainable, Earth-Friendly
Practices
US
EPA Names Fetzer Among Best-of-the-Best For Ozone Protection
Winery Earns 12th WRAP Award For Waste Management
Hopland,
Calif. (July 20, 2007) Fetzer Vineyards pioneering leadership
in sustainable environmental practices has been recognized
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
with the award of a 2007 Best-of-the-Best Stratospheric
Ozone Protection Award in celebration of the 20th anniversary
of the signing of the Montral Protocol, a signature
event in climate protection endorsed by 190 nations.
The
California Integrated Waste Management Board has also
awarded Fetzer its 12th WRAP (Waste Reduction Award
Program) award for reducing landfill waste through innovative
recycling and waste reduction programs that allow the
winery to be a zero-waste facility.
Fetzer first earned the EPA award in 2002 in recognition
of its banning during the 1990s of methyl bromide, an
ozone-depleting soil fumigant, in Viticultural practices.
Methyl Bromide is known to erode the ozone layer, contributing
to global warming.
Fetzers first WRAP award was earned in 1993.
The new EPA award is among several given to the highest
caliber recipients from over 500 award winners from
1990 to 2007 according to the US EPA. The Best-of-the
Best award nominees were evaluated by the US EPA staff
and judged by an international panel representing industry,
government and non-governmental organizations, with
the leadership of the US EPA making the final selection
of winners.
Fetzers award notes the phasing out of methyl bromide,
and the winerys broad use of sustainable practices including
organic farming of estate vineyards, integrated pest
management, use of cover crops, composting and related
vineyard practices, solar and other renewable energy
usage, reducing waste and other Earth-Friendly practices.
The citation also acknowledges Fetzers leadership in
sharing information about sustainability broadly.
An award ceremony will take place in September in Montral
during a meeting of the Parties to the Montral Protocol,
representing more than 190 nations who have signed the
agreement.
Among other winners are nine additional winners in the
corporate/government/military sector; five from associations;
six team winners and 31 individuals. Fetzer is the only
winery among the group.
In selecting Fetzer for the WRAP award, the CIWMB noted
that Fetzer has reduced material hauled to landfills
by 95% since 1990, representing the same amount of garbage
that would have been produced by 17,000 homes.
Fetzer has earned WRAP awards in the periods 1993-1995,
1997-2002, and each year since 2004.
Sustainability remains the cornerstone of the way we
do business, noted Tim Nall, General Manager, Wine Operations
for Brown-Forman, parent company of Fetzer Vineyards.
While these practices are a way of life for us, we do
appreciate and honor the acknowledgement of the US EPA
and California Integrated Waste Management Board, he
added. Were inspired each day to rededicate our sustainable
efforts as we craft Fetzers Valley Oaks wines.
Brown-Forman,
located in Louisville, Kentucky, is a diversified producer
and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including
Fetzer, Sonoma-Cutrer, Bonterra, Jekel, and Five Rivers
California wines; Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort, Finlandia
Vodka, Tequila Herradura, el Jimador Tequila, Canadian
Mist; Bolla Italian Wines and Korbel California Champagnes.
We
craft our Fetzer Valley Oaks Wines so you can enjoy
them responsibly.