Trinchero Family Estates Celebrates First Harvest at New Lodi Winery

 LODI, Calif., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 26, the Trinchero family celebrated the first grape crush and the beginning of harvest at their new West Side Winery in Lodi, Calif. The Napa Valley winemaking family and owners of Trinchero Family Estates will be producing a portion of their top-selling wine brand, Sutter Home, as well as other brands at the new state-of-the-art facility.

"We've been building the winery over the past two years," says Roger Trinchero, Vice Chairman and CEO of Trinchero Family Estates. "Watching the trucks drive in with the first grapes of the harvest is truly thrilling and I can't wait to taste the 2009 vintage of our wines made at this winery."

The first phase of the 850,000-square-foot facility was completed in the spring of 2009. The crush and fermentation area was built from the ground up with automation and sustainability in the forefront of the design. A highly automated process gently handles the grapes with minimal environmental impact, resulting in higher quality wines. The close proximity of the winery to the Trinchero's nearby ranches reduces freight and fuel impacts of transporting grapes.

A key feature of the architectural design is the $5.3 million photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system that helps provide power to the winery. This system will provide nearly all of the energy the facility will need in its initial phase.

The Lodi agricultural industry will benefit economically from the facility's expansion as well. The company plans to hire approximately 20 new employees bringing the total number of full time employees at the site to approximately 40.

"The new winery is an outstanding example of how innovations in environmental and industrial design can greatly advance the art of winemaking," says Bob Torres, Principal and Senior Vice President of Operations. "We're excited to increase our presence in the Lodi winemaking community."

Trinchero Family Estates is wholly owned and operated by the Trinchero family, Napa Valley vintners since 1948. The company produces more than 23 brands of wine including Sutter Home, Trinchero Napa Valley, Napa Cellars, Terra d'Oro, Montevina, Trinity Oaks, Folie a Deux, Menage a Trois, and the number one alcohol-removed wine, Fre. The company also imports Angove Vineyards and Little Boomey wines of Australia, and market and sell the Three Thieves and Joel Gott brands. www.tfewines.com