Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 9, 2024

Duckhorn Portfolio Expands Emissions Reporting, Adopts Solar

The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. a wine company, expanded its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reporting to include its Washington State operations. 

The company also expanded its disclosures with respect to water stewardship, introducing new metrics to report on its environmental impact.

The Duckhorn Portfolio’s FY23 Scope 1 emissions recorded an increase, which was attributed to a few factors, including improvement of the data collection process over the past year allowing the capture of more comprehensive fuel usage data. It also was due to a wet spring during the growing season, which led to more mowing, cultivation and spray passes this year, contributing to an increase in diesel use and and the increase of the scope of its operations, which leads to more fuel usage in line with maintaining these facilities and vineyards.

The company announced that 96% of its total grid electricity consumption at their California wineries, vineyards, and offices comes from GHG-free resources including renewable, nuclear, and large hydroelectric power.

The Duckhorn Portfolio used solar panels at its production facilities to power over 30% of the energy needed for their production facilities annually. The company plans to invest in solar and/or other renewable energy at its production facilities. 

In 2023, the company completed a new 400 kW solar electric power installation at Migration, which replaced the winery’s existing solar array. Over FY23, using state-of-the-art, high-efficiency solar panels, the system produced 541,142 kWh. Based on usage over the past year, this solar array provides approximately 68% of Migration Winery’s main production electricity needs and is expected to offset approximately 383 metric tons of carbon annually.

Details were released in its Fiscal Year 2023 Responsibility and Sustainability Report.

“The Duckhorn Portfolio has a long history of commitment to taking care of the environment and being responsible members of the communities in which we work and operate,” said Deirdre Mahlan, President and CEO, in a statement. “Our focus over the past three years, as we have developed and matured our ESG program, has been centered on the importance of quantifying our company’s environmental and social impact and making sustainable changes that positively impact our business and surrounding communities.”