The Mendocino Wine Company produces organic and biodynamic wines in the heart of California, and the companies commitment to sustainability is evident from grape to bottle.  As the nation’s first carbon neutral winery, they understand that making great wine requires a commitment to protecting the environment as well as supporting their community.  Paul Dolan, a partner at Mendocino Wine Company, kindly took the time to answer 10 questions from me about sustainability, community and their plans for Earth Week.

1) What motivated you to start a wine business that is dedicated to sustainability?

My passion for organic wines. I found that if I converted vineyards to organic the quality was far superior. Additionally I realized the chemicals I had been using were killing the microbial life in the soil. That started me down the path of recognizing other negative impacts on the environment.

2) What changes in the wine industry have you noticed since you have been producing?  How has the demand for sustainable wine grown over the years and is that demand being met?

I have seen the industry take a total about face in the area of what I call E3, the triple bottom line- environment, economics and social equity. The CA wine community wrote one of the first codes of sustainable practices in the world. Imagine that. I had the opportunity to lead that process.

3) What are the most important qualities a consumer should look for if they want to make a greener choice for wine?

Always quality!! Organic is the first step. This is a guarantee of integrity of  the product and the producers.

4) What has been one of your favorite community outreach activities?

My favorite event to participate in is helping to organize the annual fundraiser for the Cancer Recourse Center of Mendocino County. It is an organic food and wine event that really ties all the messages together about how to live a healthy life,

5) What are the environmental benefits of a sustainable, organic and biodynamic vineyard compared to a conventional one?

Too many to capture.
•    Health and vitality of the environment we live in
•     Reduction of CO2, leadership model
•    Water reduction and quality improvement,
•    Community engagement.
•    We also developed a great packaging program here to use 100% post consumer paper as well as soy inks- not metal foil.

6) How have the recent droughts in California affected your business?  What about the state and federal water cuts?  What steps have you taken to protect and preserve this threatened resource?

We have been very active by 1st reducing our demand by ½. Secondly developing a reclamation project so we can reuse all the waste water we create. This is in the area of about 5 million gallons.

7) How have you found ways to meet your energy needs in an environmentally friendly way?

15% of our power is now solar and the remainder is green sourced- purchased wind power wind power. We use Biodiesel in our tractors and some personal vehicles.  Our biodiesel is made locally from oil collected and converted from local restaurants.

8)  How have you reduced your impact on the planet with your choices for labeling and packaging?

We also developed a great packaging program here to use 100% post consumer paper as well as soy inks- not metal foil for all of our labels. Also we use craft board for our cases  with a recycled content to avoid the harmful bleaching process found with white board boxes. We also print with water based inks.

9) Do you think the economic downturn is harming the sustainable food and wine movement? Or is this a time of great opportunity?

Time for opportunity!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10) Do you have any special plans for Earth Day / Earth Week?

Alan York, Chef Jeremy Fox and I will be speaking on Friday, April 24 at the Jackson Theater in Santa Rosa on the big questions of Biodynamics.  Can the results of Biodynamic farming be found in the quality of produce and wine, the health of land and livestock?  Does biodynamics offer freedom from environmental problems increasingly generated by many modern farming methods?  Why is biodynamics a growing trend among farmers and wine producers? For more information please visit the Sonoma County Day School Events Calendar.

takepart and purchase wine from Mendocino Wine Co. today!