Nord Vineyards Creates Unique Water-Savings Solution

12/10/07 Faced with possible water shortages following several drier than normal winters, Nord Vineyard Services has successfully implemented a program of water savings procedures at the Carneros Vineyards of Artesa Winery. A key step in the water savings system was reclaiming water used on landscaping that previously had been lost to evaporation. This step alone will save approximately 3 acre feet (1,000,000 gallons) of water, according to the Artesa and Nord teams.

"We started the year with only about half of our normal water reserves," stated Quinton Jay, General Manager of the Napa Valley-based Artesa Winery. "We had to look at extreme water conservation measures, and are very pleased with the results of all the steps implemented by Nord Vineyard Services."

Located in Napa Valley's Carneros region, Artesa Winery is famous for its architecture, as the building is built into the surrounding rolling hills. One of the first wineries to minimize its visual impact on the environment, the sides of the winery are covered with grasses, allowing the winery to gracefully blend into the scenery and not obstruct the natural beauty of the Carneros countryside. However, the irrigation of this grass along with the winery's pools and fountains require Artesa to use a considerable amount of water each year.

In order to reclaim the water used for landscape irrigation, the Nord team developed a way of collecting this water and re-plumbed the drainage system to send the water to the vineyard. The water mixes with collected winter rains, re-claimed winery wastewater, and on-site wells to keep the Artesa vineyards healthy.

Dr. Don Clark, who oversees Artesa's vineyards for Nord Vineyard Services, said this year, the Nord team is working even more closely than ever with all its vineyard and winery clients to monitor water usage. "Delivering the optimum amount of irrigation water is a real challenge," Clark said. "It's not just the dry winter. There are increasing demands on water sources, therefore, we're continually seeking innovative ways to measure how much water is needed in the vineyard, and then deliver that amount in the most effective way possible."

Dr. Clark says that his awareness of water issues comes from his family's background of dryland farming in South Texas. He also gives credit to Nord Vineyard Services founder Will Nord for being one of the first vineyard managers in the North Coast to use reclaimed water. Will developed vineyards in Carneros for Domaine Chandon in the mid-1970's, and negotiated to get reclaimed water for their vineyards, which proved critical to the region's development.

With the success of using reclaimed water in Carneros, Will was excited to approach American Canyon about plumbing into their wastewater system. After 10 years of negotiation and construction, in 2006 Nord Vineyards was able to connect its Green Island Vineyards to the newly built American Canyon wastewater treatment plant. Ed Farver of Green Island Vineyards said, "It's a win-win situation for American Canyon and Green Island Vineyards. The vineyard is able to utilize the reclaimed water in the summer season when releasing water from the wastewater plant is restricted."

Nord has always been looking for new ways to save water in their vineyards. Instead of installing standard sprinklers for frost protection, they use the latest weather data to calculate maximum water needs, and install the lowest flow sprinklers possible. Grapevine water use is scientifically measured in the soil with neutron probes, and vine water status is monitored with pressure bombs, allowing the vines to be watered only when absolutely necessary. Energy consumption and costs are reduced through a regular program of well and pump maintenance and repairs.