Energy and resource efficiency

Winemaking with efficient use of resources

Healthy and fully ripe grapes are the conditions for a good wine. When processing them into wine, the winemakers try to use what nature has given them and to make the best product with as little influence as possible. The careful handling of the grapes is an important requirement for outstanding wine qualities.

The groundwork for resource-saving work is already done in the planning and organization of the cellar. Therefore, many wineries make wine in "free fall",  using gravity in order to transport the freshly pressed must into the cellar. There, the sediments can settle down in the tanks over night. This is very gentle on the product, saves pumping and thus energy.

The cleanliness of a cellar is extremely important, but the environmental impact of cleaning as well. Once again, the aim is to use as little as possible, but as much as necessary.

Winegrowers are energy providers

Fermentation is temperature controlled. In order to make this as efficient as possible, modern control elements are necessary, but also a certain experience about which fermentation control has what impact on the final product. In many wineries, the energy is produced on site with photovoltaic systems on the roofs.

In fact, when renovating or building a new winery, the focus is set on at least covering the standard of a passive house. The use of photovoltaics, rainwater, pellets, grape pulp or geothermal energy are important resource solutions.

Rheinhessenwein e.V. , together with the association of former Oppenheim students and the service center rural area (DLG) Oppenheim is the initiator of a competition for sustainability in the industry of wine supplies. The competition gives impulses and encourages suppliers to find new resoucre saving ways in all areas of wine production and marketing.

The energy-saving cooling of wine tanks, the utilization of carbonic acid from fermentation, an efficient air conditioing management for buildings, ways to use rain water and the treatment of waste water are some of the key elements for more sustainability.
Rheinhessen wineries rely on modern technology and efficient use of resources.