5 minute read
The Working Pour
Ducard Vineyards has an expansive array of practices that ensure sustainable operations.
Stewards of the earth
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DuCard Vineyards eliminates plastic bottles from its tasting room
By Laura Drummond
“I s this the most environmentally friendly option?” At DuCard Vineyards, this is the question asked prior to making each and every decision.
Nestled at the edge of the Shenandoah National Park among the mountains of Madison
County, DuCard’s vintners are not only committed to producing award-winning, smallbatch wine but also devoted to being good stewards of the earth. “We benefit greatly facebook.com/cville.weekly from our environment, and we want to keep it as healthy as possible,” says Beth Wilson, DuCard’s customer experience and marketing director. Their latest concentration: eliminating plastics from their tasting room. Partnering with Virginia Artesian Bottling Company, DuCard offers 12-ounce glass bottles of water that are recyclable and refillable, thus eliminating a need for single-use plastic water bottles. Roughly 480 billion plastic bottles were used globally last year, and of those, less than 10 percent were recycled. With this initiative, Wilson estimates that DuCard is @cville_culture preventing the use of nearly 10,000 plastic bottles per year. “While we certainly know we’re not making a measurable dent in the problem, our philosophy is that everyone can do something, contribute to the solution, and be a good role model,” says DuCard’s founder and president Scott Elliff. Not only does DuCard consider the enviJanuary 4 – 10, 2023 c-ville.com ronmental impact of the products and supplies in use, but also the carbon footprint in terms of sourcing and shipping. DuCard locally sources whenever possible, and that includes the water in the bottles. “Our water is sourced from a number of springs at our central Virginia property,” says Nick Brown, president of Virginia Artesian Bottling. “Our carbon footprint is lower than most other water options, which are trucked in from up to a thousand miles away to Virginia-based businesses.” Prior to the transition to water in glass bottles, DuCard’s tasting room eradicated plastic tableware, opting for biodegradable and compostable items instead. Local sources provide the cheeses, meats, and chocolates for wine pairing, and the items are stored in reusable glass containers. The wine bottles are 20 percent lighter than average, and corks get recycled and turned into flooring.
Beyond the tasting room is an expansive array of practices ensuring sustainable operations. In the vineyard, DuCard uses mainly organic materials and natural methods for vine management and protection. It composts grape waste by-products for use in its fields and gardens. For the winery, solar panels generate power for heating, cooling, lighting, processing, and production. An on-premises artificial wetland system uses plants to filter winery wastewater. In all facets of the enterprise, DuCard focuses on employing and retaining mostly local workforce. It has even joined with Piedmont Virginia Community College to help train local people in vineyard operations and management for its viticulture and enology program.
DuCard is the first winery in Virginia to implement the glass bottle initiative, but this is not the first time it has led the way in sustainability efforts. Since opening its doors in 2010, DuCard has been something of a trailblazer, as evidenced by its repeat recognition as the Greenest Winery in Virginia (2010, 2015). The hope is for others to implement similar practices. “Especially for wineries and agricultural businesses in general, we thrive and are successful because of what the land and the environment give us,” says Wilson. “It’s our turn to take good care of it.”
While these efforts often take a great deal of time and work to plan and implement, and rarely present much of, if any, cost savings, DuCard has no plans to slow down. “There are lots of reasons why it’s not the easiest way to go, but it’s the best way,” says Wilson. “We’re not just committed—we’re happy to do it.”
Wednesday 1/4
music
Berto and Matt. Brazilian and Latin guitar night. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com Open Mic Night. Charlottesville’s longest running open mic night. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. 234-4436
Thursday 1/5
music
Berto and Vincent. A night of wild gypsy rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com Mayo and The House Sauce. Rock and originals. Free, 6:30pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com
outside
Veritas Illuminated. The grove and vines of Veritas winery come alive with sparkling holiday lights and decorations. $10-15, 5:15pm. Veritas Vineyards and Winery, 151 Veritas Ln., Afton. veritaswines.com
Friday 1/6
music
BRIMS Trad Ensemble. A concert of Irish music and dance at the Offbeat Roadhouse. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net Isabel Bailey Trio. Original songs and select covers that blend blues, folk, and rock. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com Old Age & Treachery. Enjoy wine, beer, and cider with a side of live music and food. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com Mama Tried. The five-piece plays high-energy Grateful Dead covers. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com Silent Disco. Groove out on your own terms using wireless, multi-channel headphones. $815, 5:30pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com
words
Friday Night Writes: A Reading Series for
Emerging Writers. Performing short stories, poetry, and music. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com
outside
Playdates at the Playscape. BYO snacks and buddies and enjoy outdoor play. $20, 9:30am. Wildrock, 6600 Blackwells Hollow Rd., Crozet. wildrock.org Veritas Illuminated. See listing for Thursday, January 5. $10-15, 5:15pm. Veritas Vineyards and Winery, 151 Veritas Ln., Afton. veritas wines.com
etc.
Frankenhooker. Date bait? Or mantrap? $10, 9:30pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com
Saturday 1/7
music
Berto and Vincent. An afternoon of untamed guitar. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com Berto’s Latin Guitar Brunch. Enjoy the sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America with Berto Sales. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com Lenny Burridge. Americana, blues, folk, pop, and rock. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com
Sunset Boulevard
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