Parducci Wine Cellars and Paul Dolan to pour at SocialBiz

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the Mendocino Wine Co. will be the exclusive winery that will be pouring for the Evening Networking and Awards Reception at SocialBizWorld 2010 – Fall!

Parducci and Paul Dolan wines will be poured for attendees (not tastings!!), and is included in the cost of the conference ticket for attendees.

Each attendee will also receive a small bottle of wine as a memento of the event and as a thank-you for attending the conference.

The Mendocino Wine Co. is dedicated to innovation and sustainable business practices, and is at the forefront of the Green Revolution in the wine industry, while remaining committed to tradition and respect for the community.

Parducci Wine Cellars, the oldest winery in Mendocino, becoming the first winery in the United States to become carbon neutral in 2007, and the State of California twice awarded Parducci the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), in 2007 and in 2009.

Read the full story here:

Leading the Green Revolution

It began over dinner at a local fundraiser.  On one side of the table sat Paul Dolan, a Mendocino County winegrower and leader in organic viticulture and sustainable business.  Across the table sat Tim Thornhill, arborist and horticultural expert known world wide for preserving heritage trees.  A passionate dialogue began, fueled by the values and vision Paul and Tim share:  commitment to sustainable business, dedication to building community, respect for tradition and confidence in the immense potential of Mendocino County grape growing and winemaking.

Tim had relocated to Mendocino County to manage La Ribera Vineyards, a ranch owned by Tom Thornhill, his brother.  The 250 acre La Ribera is just down the road from Paul Dolan’s Dark Horse Ranch.

By April 2004 Tom, Tim and Paul had formed Mendocino Wine Co., and purchased Parducci Wine Cellars, Mendocino’s oldest winery.

Respecting the heritage of Parducci and the central role the winery has played in the development of Mendocino County’s wine industry, the new owners created a strategy to build on Parducci’s strengths and successes, especially its people.  The partners are fully committed to the well-being of Mendocino County – the land, growers, employees and the community as a whole.  These goals are reflected in their sustainability E3 action plan:  “economics, environment and equity.”

“We believe that it’s time for business to lead the transformation to sustainable practices,” says Tom Thornhill.  “We need to reconnect to what’s important and become a force for change.  Moreover, that doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or profitability.”  The partners and their employees are immersed in responsible land stewardship, sustainable viticulture and business practices that yield superior grapes while preserving the environment and supporting local farmers.

In the spring of 2007, Parducci Wine Cellars became the first winery in the United States to become carbon neutral.  Parducci began by partnering with the California Climate Action Registry to calculate their annual greenhouse gas emissions.  The company then took steps to reduce carbon emissions internally by installing solar panels, upgrading to energy efficient technologies and lighting, switching farm equipment to bio-diesel, and employee education.  Parducci then purchased carbon credits, thus offsetting remaining emissions through financial investment in carbon-reducing projects such as wind power, methane capture and forest conservation.

In 2008, Parducci effectively transferred all of its energy needs to non-polluting, renewable sources by supplementing its on-site solar power with purchased Green-E® certified wind energy.  “Sustainability is an active journey, a process that never ends,” says Tim Thornhill.

Also in 2008 the partners published The Green Winegrowing Handbook, a comprehensive explanation of sustainable, organic and Biodynamic® winegrowing and winemaking practices.  The pocket-sized booklet includes a glossary that defines all related acronyms, unique vocabulary and certification agencies.  There is no fee to access a paperless version of the handbook online.

Recognizing Parducci’s leadership role in both the wine industry and the Mendocino community, the State of California twice awarded Parducci the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), in 2007 and in 2009.  This citation is California’s most distinguished environmental honor.

“We are moving towards the most earth-friendly practices that produce the highest quality grapes with authentic, site-specific character,” says Paul Dolan.  Parducci’s estate vineyards are certified organic and Biodynamic.  The winery facility received organic processor certification from California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) in 2003 and Biodynamic processor certification from Demeter in 2005.

The Parducci brand endures with a focus on family farms and Mendocino’s heritage grape, Petite Sirah.  “To us, ‘Family Farmed’ means quality and sustainability.  Family farmers are responsible stewards of the land, protecting it for current and future generations,” says Tim Thornhill.  Most of the grapes delivered to Parducci are from properties tended by the children and grandchildren of the farmers who brought grapes to the Parducci winery in the 1930s.  With assistance from Tim Thornhill’s daughter Kate, today over 75% of the grapes brought in are now certified Fish Friendly Farming, organic or Biodynamic®.