Constellation Breaks Sustainability Record

Constellation Wines U.S. last month began installation of the largest winery solar power energy system in the world at its Gonzales Winery, located in Monterey County, Calif. The one megawatt solar system will cover approximately 170,000 square feet of the main winery warehouse roof and will produce more than 1,700,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, providing approximately 50 percent of the winery's total energy requirements. The installation is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Jose Fernandez, CEO for Constellation Wines North America, comments, "We are committed to investing in technologies that will allow us to produce our wines in the most sustainable way possible, from our vineyards through the entire winemaking process. This installation is one of the most significant environmental projects undertaken to date by the wine industry, and will have a positive impact on the environment, as well as being cost effective."

Immediate environmental benefits from this project include a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as an annually reduced carbon footprint that is equivalent to planting 2,500 acres of trees, not driving an average automobile 25 million miles, or taking more than 2,000 cars off the road.