LAKEPORT — A workshop for winegrape growers interested in tracking and managing their sustainable winegrowing is slated for April 18, 8:30 a.m. to noon, in the computer lab at Mendocino College”s Lake Center, 1005 Parallel Drive in Lakeport. The workshop is presented free of charge by the Lake County Winegrape Commission in partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.
The Performance Metrics Workshop may benefit any Lake County winegrape grower who is interested in using online tools to measure, track and manage the use of natural resources, Lake County Winegrape Commission Education Director Paul Zellman said.
Performance metrics are the measurable outcomes of business practices ? in this case, the sustainable winegrowing practices of winegrape producers and vintners. Workshop attendees will learn more about performance metrics and the benefits of using them.
Growers will be introduced to the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance”s (CSWA) new online tools to calculate water, energy, greenhouse gas emissions related to energy and applied nitrogen metrics. They will also learn about the connection between water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Attendees are asked to bring their data about water, nitrogen and energy use. The workshop facilitators will assist growers in using the online tools to start calculating their sustainability metrics, Zellman said. In addition, PG&E will present information about energy efficiency rebates and incentives for wineries and vineyards.
“Having the data on hand and being able to use the performance metrics to analyze outcomes of the sustainability practices can help growers achieve better efficiency in their operations and decrease costs,” Zellman said. “This is useful information that will help our winegrape producers and winery managers look at the use of their energy, water consumption, utilization of nitrogen, and the greenhouse gas emissions.”
The CSWA”s existing online system includes a self-assessment for winegrape growers interested in sustainable winegrowing.
The new tool for performance metrics will allow growers and vintners to track and store their data and access educational information within the secure system, according to the CSWA. People who do not have a username and password for the SWP online system are asked to contact Wilson by Tuesday to obtain an online participation form.
Interested growers and vintners are encouraged to sign up early because computer space is limited. To register or inquire about the free workshop, call or email Jodi Wilson, 415-356-7544, jwilson@wineinstitute.org. Details about the workshop are available on the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance”s website, www.sustainablewinegrowing.org.
The workshop is one of many presented by the Lake County Winegrape Commission. For more information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission”s workshops and other events, visit the Commission”s website, www.lakecountywinegrape.org.
