Lower Lake, CA (April 16, 2020) – Shannon Ridge Family of Wines is in the process of transitioning its portfolio of award-winning wine to environmentally friendly glass in their ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The new bottles will be lighter, reducing energy usage when shipping the wines across the nation. Additionally, the glass will be produced from recycled materials, furthering their commitment to sustainability and the environment.
From day one, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines was founded with environmental stewardship at its core. “Sustainability is a term that’s widely used and, frankly, we need to put some teeth into it,” states Clay Shannon, President and CEO.
Traditional wine bottles are heavy and cumbersome. The new lighter, recycled glass bottles will reduce energy usage in manufacturing as well as decrease trucking-related carbon usage by an average of more than 20%.
Shannon Ridge is also committed to the use of cork enclosures. Cork is a natural material and renewable resource harvested from cork trees, which reduce carbon emissions and supply the world with much-needed oxygen. By contrast, synthetic enclosures and screw caps require pit-mining and fabrication using fossil fuels.
It is with great pride that Shannon Ridge continues to seek improvements and solutions throughout the entire lifecycle of their Lake County wines. Over the years, Shannon Ridge’s Ovis Cycle has reduced the use of mowers, tractors, weed eaters, and other means of fossil fuel consumption. Their herd of 700 sheep move through the vineyards removing unwanted basil leaves and trunk suckers from the vines, reducing the need for human intervention. The sheep cut down on the need for herbicides, protect against wildfires, and provide natural fertilizer, reducing the environmental impact property-wide.
About Shannon Ridge Family of Wines
The Shannon family is committed to preserving their land, not only for the great vineyard sites but also for the bear, elk, mountain lions, eagles and other creatures which live there. Of their approximately 2,500 acres, only about 45% have been converted to vineyards. The balance of the land has been preserved for the wildlife which wanders through the property from the expansive wilderness areas adjoining the ranches. The vineyards were carefully planned out, leaving corridors open to migrating animals and protecting sensitive nesting areas.
