January 20, 2011 (Paso Robles, CA) – From Paso Robles’ famed west side comes Niner Wine Estates – an enviro-friendly and avant-garde addition to Central Coast Wine Country. 

Sustainability has been an issue of the greatest significance to both owner Richard Niner and winemaker Amanda Cramer since they first discussed plans to build the winery.  “I took the position with Niner Wine Estates for the company’s commitment to wine quality and its potential to set a new standard in environmental stewardship,” says Cramer, who was awarded Winemaker of the Year at the San Francisco International Wine Competition in 2010. “Our team is green at heart, and it is refreshing to work for a company and for owners who allow us to apply that philosophy in the work place. Green is good,” she laughs.

On the project team, Niner hired Pults & Associates architect Tim Woodle to design the most environmentally-conscious winery possible and engineer Tom Bower as Project Manager to oversee the construction and implementation of elements that would assist in LEED certification.  The result is a testament to the power of creative design and conservation of natural resources.

Working with PG&E on their ‘Savings By Design’ program to mitigate electric power usage, Niner Wine Estates is particularly dedicated to the conservation of energy.  For instance, the winemaking facility is set into an east-facing hillside and is constructed with 14” thick insulated concrete tilt-up panels, which have very high thermal mass. This reduces the need for energy-depleting (and expensive) mechanical cooling.  Other energy efficient strategies such as gravity flow winemaking, night air cooling, strategic selection of windows and overhangs, and high-efficiency lighting result in a savings of more than 15% in energy costs over California standards.  Moreover, 35% of the electricity required to operate the buildings is purchased from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. 

Perhaps the greatest distinction of Niner Wine Estates’ green design is its water efficiency.  Most of the landscape areas on the property are natural grasses that require no irrigation, and the remaining landscape areas use native and adapted species with efficient drip irrigation, reducing overall water demand by 86% when compared to typical landscape design.  The water that is required is provided entirely by captured rainwater and recycled process water – treated in a unique system designed by The Wallace Group in San Luis Obispo – so that zero gallons of potable water are used for the landscape. This saves 1 million gallons of water every year.  The balance of the reclaimed or treated water is used to irrigate the vineyards. 

Other efforts to minimize Niner Wine Estates’ environmental impact include: recycling of 80% of waste during construction; use of locally-harvested and processed building materials; use of low or no volatile organic compound (VOCs) emitting interior materials (flooring, paints, sealants, etc.); and the inclusion of bike racks and showers for employees who cycle to work.

Taking these steps to conserve their natural resources has allowed Niner Wine Estates to apply for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design certification (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council – an honor that has only been awarded to a handful of wineries in the U.S. and Canada.  Final LEED certification is expected this spring.

Niner Wine Estates is the visionary initiative of Richard Niner, who believes that a blend of exceptional people, vineyards, tools, and ideas is the key to creating world class wines and providing a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of Paso Robles wine country. Since its founding in 2001, the Niner Wine Estates roster of award-winning wines has grown to include Bordeaux, Rhone and Italian varietals, including their flagship Bordeaux blend, Fog Catcher. An independent, family-owned company, Niner Wine Estates is dedicated to making exceptional wines by combining the best of traditional winemaking methods as it employs cutting-edge technologies. In the state-of-the-art winery that is on track to become LEED-certified, Winemaker Amanda Cramer shepherds estate-grown fruit from Bootjack Ranch and Heart Hill Vineyard into wines that express terroir and elegance.

For more information on Niner Wine Estates, please call 805.239.0033, visit www.ninerwine.com or email info@ninerwine.com.