Fisher Vineyards: Championing Sustainability & Efficiency With Propane

Nestled in the heart of California’s wine country, Fisher Vineyards stands as a testament to the powerful impact that innovative energy solutions can have on agriculture and industry. Fisher Vineyards’ history began in 1973 when Fred and Juelle planted 20 acres of vineyards in Sonoma County. Today, Fred and Juelle Lamb Fisher’s children — Robert, Cameron and Whitney — are the second-generation stewards of Fisher Vineyards. Robert now serves as CEO, Cameron leads sales and marketing, and Whitney is responsible for vineyard management and production.

In June, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) recognized this vineyard’s commitment to excellence by presenting it with the Energy for Everyone Hero Award. This award celebrates the ways propane is revolutionizing the agricultural and commercial sectors by enhancing efficiency, sustainability and profitability.

Fisher Vineyards, with its dedication to sustainable practices and operational efficiency, embodies the very spirit of this award. The ceremony — led by PERC’s director of agriculture business development, Mike Newland — honored Fisher Vineyards CEO Robert Fisher, along with remarks from their propane partner, Trent Nagata of Blue Star Gas, as well as Colin Sueyres, president and CEO of the Western Propane Gas Association.

Recognition & Impact

The Energy for Everyone Hero Award recognizes outstanding propane users who have leveraged this versatile energy source to achieve significant benefits for their business and community. For Fisher Vineyards, this award is a testament to the success of its efforts to integrate propane into its operations.

“Their current propane applications include power generation, frost prevention fans, water heating and their HVAC system,” said Newland. “They also rely on propane to maintain refrigeration and [the] barrel aging process, the preparation of the grape’s storage in the fermentation tanks.”

The award highlights how propane has enabled the vineyard to enhance its efficiency, protect its crops and contribute to a more sustainable future for the wine industry.

“Fisher Vineyards has proven that propane in combination with other energy sources can reduce emissions [and] increase reliability, which is important to both Fisher Vineyards and its community,” said Newland.

PERC’s recognition of Fisher Vineyards could also serve as inspiration for other wineries and agricultural businesses to explore the potential of propane as a reliable and environmentally friendly energy solution.

“Propane provides a cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy source for multiple applications. Its ability to provide reliable power independent of the electric grid is particularly important here in California, where both planned and unplanned power outages negatively impact crops and businesses,” said Newland.

Refrigeration & Temperature Control

One of the most vital aspects of winemaking is maintaining precise temperature control throughout the production process. At Fisher Vineyards, propane-powered refrigeration systems are essential for preserving the integrity of their wines. These systems ensure that grapes are kept at optimal temperatures from the moment they are harvested until the final product is bottled.

Temperature control is also critical during fermentation and after, where even slight variations can significantly impact the flavor and quality of the wine. Sometimes they need an elevated temperature of 80 F to 85 F post-fermentation, and they need the barrel cellar to be 55 F with 80% humidity at all times. By relying on propane, Fisher Vineyards can guarantee consistent climate control across its facilities, regardless of external conditions.

Power Generation & Resilience

In addition to its use in refrigeration, propane plays a crucial role in power generation at Fisher Vineyards. During harvest season, the vineyard operates at full capacity, requiring a dependable energy source to power its equipment and facilities. Propane generators provide a reliable solution, ensuring that operations continue smoothly even during peak demand periods.

This reliability extends far beyond routine operations. In times of crisis, such as during California’s frequent power outages, propane generators become the backbone of the vineyard’s resilience strategy.

“When the grid goes down, [it] sometimes just goes down because it’s unstable, sometimes they’re shutting it down because of wildfire threats — those kinds of things,” said Robert Fisher. These outages can have devastating effects, especially during critical periods of the winemaking process.

While much planning goes into making wine, there isn’t real notice of when the power grid will be down or if there will be a wildfire. Due to this instability, Robert said, “We almost never have a notice that it’s going to be shut down. We also basically never have a notice that it’s going to be back on. … I mean, it’s a mess. There is some consideration during those periods looking at more sustained propane-generated power. Because when we go off the grid, we’re not looking to change back over to the grid midday, mid-process. We’ll run it eight to 12 hours steady, until it cools at night and we can make a transition, or we have a break in the morning.”

Propane generators provide a reliable solution, ensuring that operations continue even when the grid goes down. By remaining operational during these outages, Fisher Vineyards can prevent the loss of valuable produce and maintain its production schedule without disruption.

The vineyard’s use of propane also extends to frost protection, another critical aspect of its operations. During colder months, frost can pose a serious threat to grape crops. Propane-powered fans are deployed across the vineyard to circulate warmer air and protect the vines from freezing temperatures. This application not only preserves the quality of the grapes, but also ensures the vineyard’s ability to produce high-quality wines year after year.

The reliability of propane in these situations cannot be overstated. It’s not just about keeping the lights on; it’s about protecting the quality of the wine and the livelihood of those who produce it.

The Future of Fisher Vineyards’ Partnership With Propane

As Fisher Vineyards looks to the future, its commitment to propane as a cornerstone of its operations remains strong. The vineyard continues to explore new ways to integrate propane into its processes, seeking to further enhance its efficiency and sustainability.

The Energy for Everyone Hero Award is not just an acknowledgment of past achievements, but also a powerful catalyst for future innovation. From ensuring the quality of the vineyard’s wines to protecting its crops and reducing its environmental impact, propane has become an indispensable part of Fisher Vineyards’ strategy. As the wine industry continues to evolve, Fisher Vineyards stands as a shining example of how innovative energy solutions can drive both business success and environmental stewardship.