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The State of California's Waste Reduction Awards Program is recognizing three California-based Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines facilities.  Beaulieu Vineyard is receiving this award for the 16th time for its efforts to go green. Rutherford-based Beaulieu Vineyard Winery recycled more than 3,000 tons of material in 2007.  

Beaulieu Vineyard has a long and rich history; the winery was founded in 1900 and was one of only a few wineries who were able to stay open during Prohibition (altar wine in churches was still allowed). The Waste Reduction Awards Program also recognized Sterling Vineyards as well as Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines' bottling facility in Sonoma.  

"Sterling Vineyards kept nearly 1,200 tons of solid waste from going to landfill through organized waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting efforts, including sending out 815 tons of grape stems and pomace to a local composting facility and shipping out nearly 1,000 barrels for reuse." Source: PR Newswire

Sterling Vineyards, located in Calistoga, was also able to recycle $4,500 worth of material and donated all of the proceeds from their recycling efforts to charities in the area. Founded in Napa Valley in 1964, Sterling Vineyards launched its first organic wine, the Mendocino Chardonnay 2007, earlier this year.

The third facility recognized by the WRAP is the Sonoma-based bottling facility. Managers at this location carried out a massive recycling effort with more than 264,000 pounds recycled in 2007, switched to more energy-efficient lighting products in its facility and created a new cork-recycling program.  

For more information on how you can recycle wine corks at home, Robin Shreeves, the MNN Food blogger, just posted an article on the topic: Why and how to recycle wine bottle corks.