Reduce, Renew, Recycle is the mantra at Isenhower Cellars.  It is good business and good for us.  This is what we do and below is Brett Isenhower discussing our sustainability program.

• We reduce the amount of water we use though the use of steam to clean barrels, tanks, bottling equipment, wine glasses, drains, walls, and floors. 
• Where possible CFC lighting has been installed.
• We use American made bottles.  American bottles have a lower carbon footprint than bottles from China or Europe.
• All our wine bottles are stored in kraft brown case boxes and we reuse the boxes over and over again. 
• The only chemicals we use in the winery are potassium hydroxide for sanitizing, citric acid to neutralize the potassium hydroxide, and potassium metabisulfite.
• Pressed grapes and stem are taken to a dairy farm for the cows to eat.
• We use Potassium Chloride instead of Sodium Chloride for water softening.
• Barrels that are no long used are swapped with a local plant nursery.
• Beginning in 2008 we stopped using metal ink on our labels.  In 2011 we are no longer using tin capsules.
• Our corks are certified to have a lower carbon footprint than screwcaps and plastic corks.  Plus the corks are a renewable resource and are recyclable.
• Beginning in 2011 all red wines are fermented with wild yeasts.