Especially in California, water is one of our most precious resources. As farmers, it is the literal life-blood of our endeavors. Our intentionality with water usage and reclamation is a heartfelt endeavor that only continues to improve. 

Our first line of action is drip irrigation for our vines. This prevents dreaded run-off and guarantees that the water is directed specifically to the root ball of each vine. Here in the Geneseo District of East Paso Robles, we benefit greatly from our clay heavy alluvial soil. It holds onto water far longer than other soil types. In fact, even when the surface of the vineyard looks like a parched and cracked dessert floor, digging down a foot reveals moist clay. 

All water used on our land is pulled from our wells. Holding the record for one of the deepest wells in the area, we are very intentional on how much water we draw and where it is used. Though our shallower well is used for water intended for human consumption, we choose to avoid impacting the traditional water table aquifer when drawing for our vineyard. Pulling from our deeper well is our endeavor to mitigate the water usage drain on our neighbors and community. Though the water from this deeper well is less clean and poorer in quality, simple adjustments make it palatable for our vines.

At the center of our vineyard is a two acre wide reservoir that holds 656,000 gallons of water pumped from our 1,100 feet deep well. This 26 feet deep reservoir creates the rhythm of our vineyard. It acts as a cooling basin for the 106F well water while simultaneously functioning as a catch basin for all of our winery waste water. The water usage in winemaking is incredible as we work to wash and sanitize barrels, tanks and bins throughout the year long process. We are fortunate enough to be able to recycle 100% of this winery waste water back to our reservoir to be held for pumping back out to our vines through our drip irrigation. We aspire to continue improving our water usage and preserving this incredible natural resource.

Planted in 2000, CASS Winery & Vineyard has had decades to improve and grow in managing energy consumption. 

Located in the center of the Geneseo District of East Paso Robles, the CASS Winery & Vineyard enjoy more than 286 days of average annual sun. Consequently, solar power has been a great resource to harness for our winemaking needs, and as support for our growing tourism to our tasting room, events and Geneseo Inn. First installed in 2009, we more than doubled our panels and thereby generation in 2022, allowing for us to support our growth in wine production to 12,000 cases per year. 

Our tourism growth over the decades has also moved us to aid our guest's who prioritize managing their personal carbon footprint. In 2015, CASS Winery was the first to install Tesla Chargers on the backroads of Paso Robles, CA. In 2022, after considerable growth in tourist traffic, additional electric vehicle chargers were installed at the Cass Café and tasting room, as well as at our Barrel Room event center and our Geneseo Inn. Bringing the grand total of electric vehicle chargers on property at CASS Winery up to 18. 

Our commitment to energy management is steadfast and will only continue to improve as we discover new ways to make a difference.

As the heart of CASS Winery's sustainable vineyard management is water conservation, biodiversity management in both flora and fauna on the property, and the omission of pesticides and polluting chemicals on the land.  

Water Conservation

• Drip irrigation
• Shade cloth usage
• Winery waste water recycling

Biodiversity Preservation

• Omission of crop cover in every other row, allowing for native plants and increased diversity of insect habitat
• No poisons used for animal or pest prevention
• Owl boxes mounted throughout vineyard to increase a healthy predator/prey relationship on the vineyard

No Use of Harsh Chemical Pesticides or Fertilizers

• Sulphur dust for mildew prevention
• Roses planted to detect mildew before the vines are effected
• Utilizing compost to enrich the vineyard with nitrogen for added soil fertility
• Planting barley in drought years and legumes in wet years as crop cover to enrich the soil with nitrogen

The full practice of sustainable winegrowing is in the minutia of fastidious maintenance logs, nitrogen calculations and irrigation monitoring to make sure we do not exceed the one acre per foot irrigation standards.