About

Winery Environmental Leadership Practices

Minimize Water Usage/ Promote Water Recycling

TFE collects processed water it uses during production and funnels the water to in-house treatment facilities (one each at Green Island Road, Zinfandel Ranch, and Main Street) where it is treated and then recycled into landscaping and vineyards. Every few years, deposited material that has accumulated at the bottom of the collecting ponds is removed, dried, and recycled into the vineyards. Due to the scale of TFE's production operation, we use substantially less water in production than the average winery.

Due to the scale of TFE's production operation, we use substantially less water in production than the average winery.

Use of recycled materials

All glass used in the bottling process is comprised of approximately 45% recycled glass. In addition to fewer raw materials, less energy is used to make the finished product, as recycled glass requires less heat than raw sand to become finished glass. Most TFE packaging, such as cardboard boxes, are made in part from recycled materials. In our offices, copy paper and paper towels are sourced from recycled materials.

Recycling Used Materials

In turn, TFE strives to recycle as much used material as it can. Glass, PVC capsules, tin foil, plastic film, filter agent bags, miscellaneous metals, batteries, waste oil, oil filters, and solvents are all recycled. Employee recycling programs are in place in every TFE facility to promote the recycling of paper, aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles, and newspapers.

South Napa Bottling Facility

Moving 50% of our bottling and all of our distribution facilities to Green Island Road, which is closer to major freeways, has resulted in thousands of fewer truck trips per year to Napa Valley. In addition, TFE endeavors to have delivery trucks leave with a full load of either finished wines or recycled materials.

Every product purchased for production is evaluated for efficiency, noise and air pollution, and overall energy use.

Staffing Considerations

To Minimize Impact on Traffic and Keep Employees Happy TFE strives to staff its facilties based on where employees live. For example, if an employee lives in St. Helena, the priority is locate him or her at our Main Street facility. If they live in Vallejo, an effort is made to station them at Green Island Road. This results in shorter commutes and a cumulative reduction in air pollution.

Energy-efficient Facilities

Energy-efficient refrigeration systems, energy-efficient lighting, and insulated tanks are a few of the steps TFE has taken to promote efficiency in its wineries. Every product purchased for production is evaluated for efficiency, noise and air pollution, and overall energy use.

Night Air Cooling System

When the evening temperature drops below 54 degrees, exhaust fans funnel the cool night air into our storage facilities, naturally cooling the buildings and saving energy.

Wildlife Habitats

Surrounding our water collection ponds are various wildlife habitats. For example, at Main Street, there are duck and geese hatches; at Zinfandel Ranch, duck, turtle and frog hatches can be found.

TFE is one of the few Napa Valley wineries to have been awarded the Green Business Award from Napa County.

Friendly Neighbor

Because TFE's wastewater and runoff water collection systems are separated, it is able to help neighbors process their wastewater when rains overstress their runoff systems. Also, TFE has minimized the impact of its operations on neighbors by adhering to strict business hours, painting tanks a muted green color, and reducing lighting and noise whenever possible.

WRAP Award

This year, TFE applied to receive the WRAP award from the California EPA Integrated Waste Management Board. This award is given to those businesses that have incorporated significant waste reduction activities into their operations. The company feels our significant recycling and composting efforts warranted us applying for the award.

Climate-Wise Program

TFE is a member of the nation-wide Climate-Wise Program sponsored by the EPA. The program promotes the reduction of greenhouse gases. Our energy-efficient operations have contributed to the reduction of these gases.

Green Business Program

TFE is one of the few Napa Valley wineries to have been awarded the Green Business Award from Napa County, in recognition of our environmental leadership practices. TFE was integral in putting together a handbook of best management practices for other wineries highlighting some of the steps we have taken as an environmentally responsible enterprise.