GOLDENEYE WINERY EARNS LEED-GOLD CERTIFICATION

GOLDENEYE WINERY EARNS LEED-GOLD CERTIFICATION

Putting LEED-Gold in Goldeneye—Winery highlights energy-efficient and environmentally conscious design, including solar power, thermally controlled rooms, rainwater collection and locally harvested redwood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

ANDERSON VALLEY, Calif. – October 6, 2010 – Duckhorn Wine Company’s Goldeneye Winery is proud to announce that it has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC). The USGBC’s LEED green building certification program is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. With its new certification, Goldeneye becomes the third winery in California (joining Cade and Hall) to achieve the coveted LEED-Gold distinction.

Located in the heart of the Anderson Valley, Goldeneye’s state-of-the-art, sustainably constructed Gowan Creek Winery was completed just prior to the 2009 harvest, and immediately began the yearlong LEED-Gold certification process. The production-only winery was designed by local architect Ron Verdier, of Verdier Architects, in collaboration with Goldeneye Vice President and Winemaker Zach Rasmuson, and was built by Nordby Construction. Gowan Creek Winery is home to all of Goldeneye’s small-lot winemaking operations.

In addition to being a purpose-built Pinot Noir winery, the new facility incorporates cutting-edge, energy-efficient and environmentally conscious design. These features include the use of locally harvested and milled redwood, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The winery also incorporates a 32-Kilowatt solar photovoltaic array (that produces the majority of the winery’s energy needs), an energy conserving cool roof, structurally insulated thermally controlled rooms, rainwater collection and storage, and high efficiency lighting. Along with LEED-Gold certification for its Gowan Creek Winery, Goldeneye also achieved California Sustainable Winegrowing Certification from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance in January of this year for the winery and its five estate vineyards in the Anderson Valley.

“When we established Goldeneye, it was about more than building a brand, it was about championing a region, and helping it to achieve its full potential,” says Rasmuson. “It was also about having a thoughtful relationship with our Anderson Valley environment. Being a good steward to our land, and a good citizen in our community, makes for better wines. Our LEED certification is a testament to this belief. As the gold standard for green buildings, we are proud of what it represents, and very pleased that it gives consumers a clear and quantifiable third-party assessment of our environmental commitment.”

About Goldeneye & Duckhorn Wine Company:
Goldeneye was founded in 1996 by Duckhorn Wine Company, and is dedicated to crafting Pinot Noir wines in California’s acclaimed Anderson Valley winegrowing region. Goldeneye’s estate program consists of five vineyards, encompassing over 200 vine acres and planted to more than 20 distinctive clones of Pinot Noir—giving the winery a rich and diverse palette of fruit from which to produce its wines. Duckhorn Wine Company has helped set the standard for American fine wine for over three decades. In addition to Goldeneye, the Duckhorn Wine Company family includes Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx, Migration and Decoy. Duckhorn Wine Company wines are available throughout the United States, on five continents, and in 40 countries. For more information, visit www.duckhorn.com.

About the U.S. Green Building Council:
The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 140,000 LEED® Professionals TM, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. USGBC is the developer of the LEED green building certification program.

Contact:
Emily Hirsch
emily@jam-pr.com
718-596-6061