St. Helena's Titus Vineyards has gone solar - Napa Valley Register

St. Helena's Titus Vineyards has gone solar

Titus Vineyards on the Silverado Trail in St. Helena has installed more than 100 solar panels on the winery roof.

The panels, which came online Feb. 15, are now providing 95% of the winery’s energy needs on an annual basis.

“We have been celebrating Earth Day early,” said winemaker Stephen Cruzan. “We have been planning to integrate solar power into the winery’s energy program for several years and now, thanks to Summit Technology Group, we’re in operation."

For the majority of the year the winery will be able to sell power back to the grid.

In recent years, Cruzan and Eric Titus, general manager and vineyard operations manager, started discussing renewable energy. Incorporating solar energy into the plant’s operations was seen also as an opportunity to invest in the facility.

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“We’re proud to ‘walk the walk’ in terms of putting green practices into action at the winery,” said Cruzan.

“We are focused on providing a sustainable future for the winery,” said Titus.

The installation of the panels was an elaborate process. Summit Technology Group installed ballasts that are attached to the roof and screwed in a system of rails to support the solar panels. It then configured the panels to lie flat to have the ideal amount of sun absorption with the exception of above the tasting room, where they’re canted to be visible.
This wine robot "sommelier" pours wine and entertains guests at the Maria Concetto tasting room in Calistoga.

On the Vines: Meet the grapegrowers and winemakers of St. Helena

Learn about the St. Helena wine business from the grapegrowers and winemakers who develop some of the best wines in Napa Valley ... and the world.

Beth Weber Novak of Spottswoode on growing grapes and making wine in St. Helena.

Michael Keenan of Robert Keenan Winery on growing grapes and making wine on Spring Mountain.

Eric Titus of Titus Vineyards on growing grapes and making wine in St. Helena.

Garrett Hale of Spring Mountain Vineyard on growing grapes and making wine on Spring Mountain.

Seth Goldfarb of Anomaly Vineyards on growing grapes and making wine in St. Helena.

Wesley Steffens of Vineyard 7 & 8 on growing grapes and making wine on Spring Mountain.

Enrique Mora of Barnett Vineyards on growing grapes and making wine on Spring Mountain.

Myriah Mutrux of HALL Wines on growing grapes and making wine in St. Helena.

Sheldon Richards of Paloma Vineyard on growing grapes and making wine on Spring Mountain.

Andy Schweiger of Schweiger Vineyards on growing grapes and making wine in St. Helena.

Rich Salvestrin of Salvestrin Winery on growing grapes and making wine in St. Helena.