Pedernales Cellars Incorporates Sustainable Practices
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword at Pedernales Cellars. Our team members, including our winemaker and co-owner David Kuhlken, winemaker Joanna Wilczoch, Vineyard Manager Evan McKibben, and I have long discussed the best ways to make our wines and run our winery in the most sustainable way. We appreciate that valuing resources means implementing measures to protect them, both now in in the long run.
Winemaking is labor-intensive. To be a sustainable business, we must take care of our team. Winemaking is agriculture. Being good stewards of the land is essential to our long-term viability. Winemaking requires the use of natural resources. We are leveraging a variety of tools to minimize our impact on the environment.
Here we share our most recent sustainability statement, to provide some insights on what we are already doing and what we are committed to doing in our business practices to continue moving toward more sustainability.
Pedernales Cellars Sustainability Statement
We are focused on growing and operating our business prioritizing the economic, community, and environmental principles of sustainability across all departments and activities.
Employment and Community
- Fair wages
- Professional development and education support
- Family support such as paid maternity and paternity leave
- Health insurance for full-time staff
- Leadership in trade associations
- Donations and support to organizations in local and winegrowing community
Land
- Minimization and elimination of synthetic herbicides and pesticides in operation
- Natural grass cover for soil preservation
- Supply organic waste material to local farms for reuse
- Organic compost program for the estate vineyard
- 100% recycling for on-site recyclable materials
- Reduce non-recyclable waste material, including minimizing consumer packaging waste
- Use 100% Texas fruit supporting local growers
Energy and Water
- 26 tons of Geothermal cooling for production operation
- Rainwater collection to support operational water usage
- Underground barrel cellar for natural temperature and humidity control
Long-Term Goals
- 25% On-site Energy Production
- 50% On-site Rainwater/Grey-water Sourcing
- Eliminate all synthetic herbicides and foliar pesticides
We are constantly evaluating our winemaking and business practices in order to maintain and improve our standards of sustainability wherever possible. We take care to learn how our business practices will have the most positive impact to avoid the depletion of natural resources and build up our community and land.
We love to discuss sustainability! Ask about it next time you visit our winery. You may book a tasting online or stop by during business hours to buy a bottle to enjoy on the lawn. Becoming a Wine Club Member is another wonderful way to show your support and enjoy great wines!