Avenue Vine

Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel join a small, but quickly growing contingent of Napa Valley wineries who are adopting solar power at a rate estimated to be more than 40 times faster than California businesses in general, according to Dan Thompson, President and CEO of SPG Solar. “Wineries are spearheading a movement beyond their industry towards the implementation of renewable energy and sustainable practices. Our goal is to provide our customers with the most effective solar energy solution that fits their unique needs. The Floatovoltaic system at Far Niente is a perfect example of this – a winning combination of innovative ideas and technology.”

Far Niente’s Floatovoltaic system involves securing nearly 1,000 Sharp solar panels on pontoons that float on the winery’s vineyard irrigation pond. Combined with a section of about 1,300 panels located on land adjacent to the pond, the array will generate 400 kilowatts at peak output, enough to offset the winery’s annual power usage and provide a net-zero energy bill.

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The Far Niente array is located in the 100-acre Martin Stelling Vineyard, which is the cornerstone of the winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon program and is located directly behind the winery. About one acre of vineyard was removed to accommodate the land-mounted portion of the system, but the floating array’s positioning on the pond saved another three-quarters of an acre of valuable Cabernet vines that would have been ripped out for a total land-mounted system. This is equivalent to about $150,000 dollars’ worth of bottled Far Niente Cabernet annually.

SPG Solar also installed an adjustable-tilt ground mounted system, developed by TTI, for Nickel & Nickel, Far Niente’s sister winery, which went live in October 2007 and brought in much of the harvest with solar power. Located in the Sullenger Vineyard on the Oakville winery’s estate, the array’s 1,904 Sharp solar panels generate 330 kilowatts at peak output, offsetting the winery’s annual power usage and providing a net-zero energy bill.

“TTI’s Floatovoltaic technology is the result of innovative thinking and practical solutions. With the ever-changing needs of today’s customers, we are constantly developing new solar PV applications to meet or exceed those needs,” said Kris Jernstedt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for TTI.

“We will always be committed first and foremost to producing great wines; it’s what we’ve been doing for over 25 years,” said Maguire. “Yet, we recognize that our environment is facing significant challenges, and as an agriculture-based business we have an obligation to do our part and take sustainable measures where possible.”

About Far Niente:
Far Niente was founded in 1885 by John Benson, a forty-niner of the California gold rush and uncle of the famous American impressionist painter, Winslow Homer. Benson hired architect Hamden McIntyre, creator of the former Christian Brothers winery – now the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone – to design the building. Constructed against a hillside in western Oakville, Far Niente functioned as a gravity flow winery, gently moving the grapes through each stage of production.

Far Niente prospered until the onset of Prohibition in 1919, when it was abandoned and left to fall into disrepair. Sixty years later, in 1979, Gil Nickel purchased the winery and adjacent vineyard and began a three-year restoration of the property. During restoration, the original name, Far Niente, from an Italian phrase that romantically translated means "without a care," was found carved in stone on the front of the building where it remains to this day. We felt an obligation to preserve the name with the hope that we could recapture a bygone era when life was indeed without a care.

Nineteen eighty-two marked the return of winemaking to Far Niente, with the harvest of the winery’s first Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay was also produced at the winery for the first time that year; the 1979, ’80 and ’81 vintage wines were made at an offsite location. Today, the winery continues to focus on producing only the two varietal wines. www.farniente.com

About SPG Solar, Inc.:
With full service facilities in Novato, Windsor, Oceanside, Vacaville, Oroville, California and Portland, Oregon, SPG Solar, Inc. is the industry's leading developer, designer, and installer of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for homes, schools, businesses, agriculture, and large-scale commercial and government facilities. SPG Solar has built over 1,000 solar PV systems including Copeland Creek Senior Affordable Housing, Throckmorton Ridge Fire Station, Far Niente Winery, Sonoma County Water Agency, and Kentfield School District – the first all solar school district in the U.S. SPG Solar is committed to building the highest-performing solar PV systems with the highest return on investment. For more information about solar PV systems visit www.spgsolar.com or call (800) 815-5562.

About TTI:
Thompson Technology Industries, Inc. (TTI) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative solar photovoltaic (PV) products. Founded by experienced solar integrators and installers, TTI develops and builds its products for ease of use, elegance in design, and quality and longevity in performance. From the high-performance SunSeeker Single-Axis Tracker to the clever and innovative Flat Jack® roof mount, TTI offers the latest tracking technology and the most dependable mounting systems for solar photovoltaic installations. By offering fresh, innovative solutions, including the Floatovoltaic floating PV system, TTI is moving renewable energy forward. Companies worldwide rely on TTI’s products which are designed to the highest manufacturing standards in the world, field-tested and include best of breed technologies. All are patent pending. For more information, visit www.thompsontec.com

OAKVILLE, Calif.–May 30, 2008