Sustainability

Tolosa’s vineyard, Edna Ranch, is sustainably farmed and Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified. Sustainable farming is a scientifically-based, comprehensive system that focuses on being environmentally friendly, socially equitable, and economically viable.  Tolosa participates at the deepest level, which requires the third-party SIP certification.  Cover crops are used each year to add nitrates back to the soil, aid in integrated pest management and preserve the soil’s ability to absorb water. Every drop of water is reclaimed and biologically processed for careful, precise application in the vineyard at key times through drip irrigation.  All winery waste, including grape seeds and skins, is recycled, composted, or otherwise recovered.  We use tools designed to do multiple tasks at the same time; this minimizes the number of tractors traveling through the vineyard and significantly reduces fuel, soil compaction and erosion.

In 2009, Tolosa showed its commitment to energy conservation with the installation of a SunPower high efficiency 539-killowatt (a 640 horsepower equivalent) ground mounted sun tracking system.  Encompassing a 33,583-square-foot area adjacent to the winery, the system uses 2,508 high-efficiency Sun Power solar panels installed on Sun Power T0 Trackers. The Trackers use a GPS system to track the sun during the day, increasing energy capture by up to 25% over fixed-tilt systems while significantly reducing land use requirements. The system produces enough power to offset 90 to 95% of the winery’s electricity demand.  According to formulas from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tolosa’s solar system is expected to displace more than 32 million pounds of carbon dioxide (smog emissions) over 30 years. This is equivalent to the emissions displaced from removing more than 2,600 cars from California’s roads. In addition to our solar power facility, we’ve installed charging stations for electric cars, including a dual Tesla station and a universal hybrid charging station, both located in our front parking lot.

All portions of Tolosa’s estate vineyard, Edna Ranch, are SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified.