Russian River Valley Estate Exceeds Sustainability Efforts with Projected Reduction of CO2 Emissions By Five Million Pounds Over 25 Years
WINDSOR, Calif. (April 22, 2020) – Bricoleur Vineyards, a new family-owned winery, tasting room, culinary showplace, retreat and event venue in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, is proud to announce the installation of a 260-panel solar photovoltaic power electric system with the goal of becoming energy self-reliant and reducing greenhouse gas production. This system is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 5,034,238 pounds over 25 years – the equivalent of 8,191,208 miles driven by the average car or planting 43.1 acres of trees.
Sustainability has long been a priority for owners Mark and Elizabeth Hanson and daughter Sarah Hanson Citron. “There’s a strong connection between the long-term health of a vineyard and the species that inhabit it,” said Mark Hanson. “Bricoleur Vineyards is a natural paradise where it’s not unusual to spot deer, wild turkeys, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, rabbits, geese, and ducks. As Bay Area natives, we take it as a vital duty to preserve the fragile eco-system of Sonoma County in every way we can.”
The new photovoltaic system is but one of the many sustainability initiatives undertaken by the Hanson family. Owls rather than pesticides manage Bricoleur’s pest population. For natural soil and vine health and to minimize carbon emissions, the property keeps honeybees and chickens, grows heirloom tomatoes and vegetables, and presses oil from the fruit of the estate’s Italian and Spanish olive trees.
Compost is used to maximize soil health while weather stations, soil probes, and plant tissue samples regulate irrigation throughout the season. This delicate balancing act, carefully calibrated and skillfully practiced, is designed to maintain exceptional vine health and produce delicious fruit while having little or no negative impact on the environment.
Bricoleur’s vineyards are also “Certified Sustainable” by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, ensuring several environmental and social standards are met such as higher quality grapes, protection of the environment and conserving natural resources, maintaining long-term viability of agricultural lands, supporting the economic and social wellbeing of farm and winery employees, enhancing communities and supporting research and education in the industry. Additionally, this year Bricoleur is one of just a few wineries to participate in achieving a “Climate Adaptation Certification” – a first of its kind viticulture pilot program featuring Bricoleur’s acclaimed Kick Ranch property to better understand carbon capture and sequestration through different farming practices. The new program is a collaborative effort between Sonoma County Winegrowers and the California Land Stewardship Institute.
Biological diversity is yet another important key to long-term vine health at Bricoleur Vineyards. Only half of Bricoleur’s acreage is devoted to vineyards in order to create a protective buffer zone and provide a natural environment where wildlife can flourish. Clones were chosen specifically for the estate’s soils in order to minimize the need for vineyard manipulation and irrigation. Seven acres of Chardonnay are grown on the property using varietal clones (Wente and Musqué) that grow best in the estate’s fine-textured clay soil. Streaked with patches of loam and gravel, the Bricoleur estate terroir provides a cool and welcoming environment for the vines and imparts a richness to the finished wine. The nearly 13 acres of Pinot Noir are similarly nurtured – comprising Dijon clones 115, 777, and 459, as well as the heritage clones Calera and Swan, the vines are beautifully suited to the soils and make for a complex finished wine.
The estate’s new Winery Barn was built using reclaimed wood and offers views of the estate’s culinary garden, which is used to source ingredients for the onsite kitchen, further reducing the winery’s carbon footprint. Additionally, the estate recently completed a green house where year-round produce will be grown for its culinary programming and on-going partnership with The Redwood Empire Food Bank.
Bricoleur’s beautiful 40-acre estate is in Windsor (recently named number one of the Top 10 Places to Visit in California in 2020 by the San Francisco Chronicle), just minutes from the Santa Rosa Airport and popular attractions, such as the new Russian River Brewing Company location. Located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, Bricoleur Vineyards can be reached by calling (707) 857-5700, emailing info@bricoleurvineyards.com or visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com.
About Bricoleur Vineyards
Bricoleur Vineyards is a unique wine country retreat nestled in the Russian River Valley in Windsor, California, about an hour north of San Francisco. Visitors can visit the newly renovated Winery Barn to enjoy Bricoleur Vineyard’s hand-crafted, estate-grown wines or an elaborate, wine and culinary experience guided by celebrated local Executive Chef Shane McAnelly. The 40-acre estate features a number of picturesque gathering places to relax and create memorable experiences, such as a picnic in the stone pavilion overlooking the rows of Chardonnay, strolling in the rose gardens admiring the vast array of colorful and fragrant roses, playing a friendly game of bocce ball, or simply enjoying one’s family and friends while watching the ducks and native birds by one of two serene ponds Family owned by Bay Area natives Mark and Elizabeth Hanson and daughter Sarah Hanson Citron, Bricoleur Vineyards is Sonoma County’s hidden gem, dedicated to enjoying the beauty of Sonoma County while building meaningful connections and communities.
