Cade Winery of Angwin, California, is the first of its kind to win the GreenLux Award, for not only being ahead of the curve in terms of environmentally friendly business, building and farming practices, but for proving that a winery can adopt such practices without sacrificing the opulent atmosphere and calibre of product that make it high-end.
Cade’s strong commitment to the environment shines through in its Gold Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The winery has raised the bar on energy efficiency, having managed to reduce its overall water consumption by 67 percent and meet 99 percent of its energy needs due to the array of solar panels installed. Natural ventilation and the mostly concrete structures help cool the building while the cool-roof system on all buildings decreases the heat island effect.
In the construction of Cade’s facilities, architect Juan Carlos Fernandez of Lail Design Group together with Grassi Construction and Summit Engineering, few new pre-consumer building materials were used. This ambitious goal resulted in 65 percent of construction waste being diverted from landfills by incorporating recycled and reclaimed materials into the build-out. The steel beams are made from 98 percent recycled steel and all wood components come from sustainably harvested wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
One would never know while strolling through the property that some of the structural support is made of recycled glass bottles, the insulation of blue jeans and the beautiful outdoor patio table of reclaimed bridge trestles. It’s all just a part of the rustic chic look of Cade, which embodies sustainability.
Apart from the built environment, the breathtaking physical surroundings make you feel an almost instant connection with nature. This probably has much to do with the 60 percent of the natural landscape on the property that has been purposely left untouched to support biodiversity.
Step inside the contemporary, elegant hospitality room at which you can leisurely sip on a stemless glass of the recently released 2007 Napa Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of black currant and acacia flower blend with chocolate and anise essence. Manzanita tree branches—the inspiration for Cade’s eco logo—hang above your head at the glossy wood tasting table as you gaze out the all-glass wall overlooking the panoramic view of the rolling hills of Cade’s organically farmed vineyards.
Cade Winery
360 Howell Mountain Road South
Angwin, California
707/965-2746
Tasting by appointment only
Honorable Mention: Stratus Wines of Niagara-on-the-Lake claims the title of being the world’s first LEED-certified wine-making facility. It boasts not only a geothermal heating/cooling system, but a glass cube tasting room that maximizes natural light to illuminate the space, a gravity-flow processing system (in lieu of inefficient conveyer belts), a company Prius for local deliveries and staff bike lockers to encourage zero-emissions transit.
Stratus Winery
2059 Niagara Stone Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
905/468-1806
Honorable Mention: Shafer Vineyards of Napa Valley deserves distinction for being 100 percent solar-powered since 2004. Other sustainability efforts include making their own compost fertilizer, recycling/reusing grey water, attracting various birds and other wildlife to help cultivate the vineyards naturally and using cover crops to enrich the soil and prevent insect/rodent infestation without the use of poisonous chemicals. Shafer’s various energy-saving systems have reduced enough greenhouse gas emissions to equal the planting of 17,000 trees. Check out this video highlighting their sustainable farming practices.
Shafer Vineyards
6154 Silverado Trail
Napa, California
707/944-2877
Tasting by appointment only
