(CVBJ) - In the wine industry where sustainability is increasingly important, Lodi is earning a reputation as leader.

In October, Wine Enthusiast magazine named Lodi as its 2015 Wine Region of the Year. The magazine highlighted Lodi’s commitment to sustainability.

“Lodi further set itself apart from other regions with the establishment of the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing in 2005,” the magazine said. “These encourage sustainable farming, a lighter hand with pest management and better air quality and water management, among other benefits.”

“We’re obviously very excited that Wine Enthusiast recognized Lodi as their wine region of the year,” said Lodi Winegrape Commission program manager Stuart Spencer. “The recognition of the tremendous quality of the wines coming from the area is going to help catapult the region and bring more wine tourists and interest to the wines and trickle back to all the growers and businesses that are supporting our industry here in Lodi.”

Trinchero Family Estates is one of the Lodi area wineries that’s getting attention for its sustainable winemaking. The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance awarded Trinchero Family Estates with the Green Medal Business Award, which is “given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Smart Business through efficiencies, cost savings and innovation from implementing sustainable practices.”

“The Business Award was just one of four included in the Green Medal Winegrowing Leadership Awards, and we are humbled to be recognized,” said Olivia Moser, public relations assistant with Trinchero Family Estates. “Sustainability is something we have been focused on since the beginning.”

Trinchero Family Estates has been a part of the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing program since its inception. When the program started, there were five growers and 1,200 acres of vineyards participating. That number has since increased to more than 100 growers and 25,000 acres of grapes.

The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing is a third-party credited and certified program that verifies participants are following 101 different farming guidelines. According to Spencer, an auditor conducts inspections on a regular basis to ensure all farming practices are being followed.

Trinchero Family Estates bottles its wine with plant-based capsules made from a carbon-neutral biopolymer in 2013. Additionally, it’s converted its 187-milliliter glass bottles to PET, which is a readily recyclable type of plastic. That change saves 32,727 metric tons of carbon equivalents per year.

The winery has also cut its water usage. Seventy percent of its processed water is reused to irrigate the crops. At its largest processing plant in Lodi, the winery uses only 1.5 gallons of water to produce a gallon of wine, compared to the average winery which uses five to six gallons of water to produce a gallon of wine.

“The future of the wine industry rests in the conservation of California’s natural resources,” said Trinchero Family Estates Principal and Senior Vice President of Operations Bob Torres. “Through responsible practices we will be able to make the industry even healthier for the next generations.”

Sustainable practices have also helped the winery cut costs. For example, less packaging is needed when shipping the wine, and the company ensures suppliers return pallets and boxes so they can be reused. Additionally, its new westside facility in Lodi has enough solar panels installed to produce a megawatt of energy, and the central location of its Lodi facility will enable the company to reduce 120,000 truck miles per year, which will save fuel costs while reducing emissions.

“Conserving the earth’s resources also boosts profitability,” said Keith Mann, Trinchero Family Estates’ vice president of Central Valley Operations. “I am proud to work for a company that excels at it.”   

Sustainability also mirrors demand from the marketplace. Customers — particularly millennials — are increasingly interested in where their food and beverages come from. Trinchero Family Estates markets its product to that market segment, believing if something has a great cause or is working toward a goal, it is easier to believe in that product.