When Domaine Carneros installed its first solar array two decades ago, it was at the forefront of renewable energy adoption

Earlier this year, Domaine Carneros Winery received the Sustainable Business of the Year award from the Napa Chamber of Commerce, presented by MCE Clean Energy, a not-for-profit public agency that has set the standard for clean energy in California since 2010.  

Domaine Carneros was founded by the Taittinger family nearly four decades ago with the conviction that the finest méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines begin with the healthiest land.

“Today, our advanced microgrid technology represents the next generation of energy independence and environmental stewardship," says CEO Remi Cohen.. "As climate challenges intensify, Domaine Carneros continues its commitment to caring for the land as intentionally as we care for our wines, reducing our carbon footprint and raising the bar on renewable energy.”

Revolutionary Microgrid Technology

In partnership with Schneider Electric, which was named the world’s most sustainable company in 2025 by Time magazine, Domaine Carneros deployed the EcoStruxure Microgrid in 2023, doubling the winery’s energy generation capacity.

The system integrates 614 upgraded solar panels generating 427 kilowatts of clean energy with a 250KVA battery backup and generator. This infrastructure ensures uninterrupted operations during increasingly common power outages due to wildfires and severe weather events, and the system stores excess solar energy generated during the day for use in the evenings or early mornings during peak demand.

The microgrid’s intelligent controls leverage AI to optimize energy usage in real time, resulting in significant operational benefits:

• Self-generation of up to 70% of energy for winery operations
• Annual savings of approximately $150,000
• Ability to operate in “island mode” during grid outages
• Solar power production of 740MWh in the last year, equivalent to taking 110 cars off the road

The system also powers four electric vehicle charging stations for guests, seamlessly integrating green technology throughout the visitor experience.

In addition to winning six major awards, the winery maintains multiple environmental certifications, including California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, Napa Green Vineyard & Winery, Bay Area Green Business, and Fish Friendly Farming.

Beyond Energy: Comprehensive Sustainability

Solar is just one of the ways Domaine Carneros implements sustainability throughout its operations. It also:

• Diverts an average of 85% of solid waste from landfills through composting, recycling, and reuse
• Recycles and reuses water used in production to irrigate estate vineyards
• Reuses 25% of packaging materials annually, saving over 1.2 million pieces since 2010
• Practices Integrated Pest Management with owl boxes and beneficial cover crops
• Composts approximately 450,000 pounds of food waste since 2013
• Launched on-site grape pomace composting trials in 2025, expanding zero-waste ambitions to vineyard byproducts
• Implemented lighter weight bottles to reduce shipping impacts
• Offsets carbon emissions from wine club shipment

“Domaine Carneros was built on a Taittinger family tenet rooted in their legendary commitment to estate ownership, that the finest wines begin with the healthiest land,” says Cohen, the CEO. “That belief drives every decision we make in the vineyard and beyond, from how we manage water and energy to how we think about our responsibility to this land and our community.”