New North Coast Tasting Room Powered by the Sun
Novato and Sonoma-based SolarCraft announced that it has completed the design and installation of a solar power installation for Fort Ross Vineyards and Winery in Jenner, CA. The newly completed tasting room is now powered by clean, renewable solar power — providing savings to the winery for decades to come.
Mounted on the steel roof of the tasting room, the system's solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and will reduce the winery's utility costs by thousands every year, while reducing the load on the local utility grid. Excess power generated during the day is banked by PG&E for credit towards future use.
Each of the solar modules is controlled by a micro-inverter, manufactured by Enphase Energy of Petaluma, CA. Unlike more conventional solar electric systems, the micro-inverters greatly reduce impacts of shade from nearby trees or structures and generate about 7% more power than conventional inverters. Overall system efficiency is increased by 10-12%.
About Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery
Less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean, Fort Ross Vineyard is one of the closest, if not the closest vineyard to the ocean in all of California. The new tasting room opening makes this the first and only vineyard tasting room along the majestic Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. The Tasting Room will offer Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinotage, all made from grapes grown exclusively on the Fort Ross Vineyard Estate.
