Rodney Strong Goes Solar

The winery, located in Healdsburg, California will commence with installation in early October of 2003 and the project is scheduled to be complete before the end of the year.

Once installed on the winery's 100,000 square foot barrelhouse, the solar system will generate 766 kilowatts of power. During full days of sun, the system will be capable of supporting a significant portion of all the winery's power needs.

Over the 25-year life of the system, the solar generated electricity will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 8,700 tons.  The emissions reductions are equivalent to planting almost 2,500 acres of trees, removing 1,700 cars from the road or not driving nearly 22 million miles on California's roadways (equivalent to 45 trips to the moon and back)! In addition, the solar system will generate enough electricity during the daytime to power almost 800 homes.

Tom Klein, winery CEO explains, " Solar electrical systems have never been more suitable to our industry. The combination of solar technology improvements, along with customary flat surfaced winery storage areas and their sunny locations, have made renewable energy more commercially viable."

The Klein family, a century-old California farming family, has owned Rodney Strong Vineyards for 13 years. In that time, they have made a significant investment to build what has become a Sonoma County franchise, by producing wine only from Sonoma county, by investing in over 1,000 acres of vineyard land and now by taking a major step to protect the quality of life in the region.

Gismondi on Wine : Latest Reviews

88/100 Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc Charlotte's Home 2001
Sonoma County, California, United States
Big steely, ripe kiwi/gooseberry character with melon floral characters and a streak of spice. The mostly Alexander valley fruit is 90 per cent stainless steel fermented. Round entry with dry, green melon kiwi and passion fruit flavours that make us want to label it a Cal-Zealand style sauvignon. Unique and attractive, should work well with a wide range of seafood.
Tasted: 2001-10-01 by
Prices: AB $17.50; BC $22.95 Specialty; MB $19.15
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

89/100 Rodney Strong Chardonnay 2001
Sonoma County, California, United States
Lovely enticing pear apple citrus fruit nose with just a dusting of lees. Buttery lees and nectarine fruit very fresh and mouth-watering and a nice touch of mineral and baked apple in the finish. The '01 is back up to standard and it's delicious. A terrific wine, and finally, at a fabulous price. The Sonoma County Chardonnay is drawn from select vineyards throughout the county with a large percentage sourced out of the highly acclaimed Russian River Valley.
Tasted: 2003-07-14 by AG
Prices: BC $24.99 Specialty
CSPC: 226936;   UPC: 087512913257
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

91/100 Rodney Strong Chardonnay Chalk Hill Reserve 1999
Sonoma County, California, United States
Big smoky lees aromas with streaks of honey, mineral and fennel and floral notes. Round and smooth entry with slightly oily textures. The flavours are smoky citrus lees and butters with good acidity throughout. Solid Sonoma chardonnay with fine elegance and good intensity.
Tasted: 2002-09-10 by AG
Prices: BC $50.00 Mark Anthony Wine Stores
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

85/100 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2000
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States
The colour is light with a touch of brown at the edge. Smoky dill and barnyard aromas waft out of the glass with toasted oak highlights in the background. A skinny-style, lightweight pinot without much extract. More cedar and toasted oak barrel flavours than fruit. Pricey for the quality.
Tasted: 2003-03-01 by AG
Prices: BC $29.95
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

86/100 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 1999
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States
Smoky sour cherry bacon aromas with a whiff of rubber. The flavours are smoke and coffee with some dried black cherry cola and compost. Toasted American oak flavours dry out the finish. Solid.
Tasted: 2002-03-01 by AG
Prices: BC $29.95 Specialty
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

86/100 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir Reserve 1999
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States
Strong smoky vanilla oak aromas with resiny carrot-top aromas and a wisp of cherry jam. Hot dry and bitter on the mid-palate with a smoky, meaty chewy peppery resiny aftertaste. Needs time but the fruit is in a life and death battle at this point. Not cheap.
Tasted: 2002-03-01 by AG
Prices: BC $55.95 Specialty
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

88/100 Rodney Strong Merlot 1999
Sonoma County, California, United States
Smoky dill and cherry flavours with just a hint of compost. Soft round textures with vanilla and cherry fruit flavours upfront and some dryness in the finish. Better fruit intensity and well-managed oak help this wine make it through. Hold a year or serve now with ripe cheeses.
Tasted: 2002-03-01 by AG
Prices: BC $29.95
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

86/100 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Sonoma County, California, United States
Smoky oak, black cherry, currant aromas with oaky vanilla pepper scents. Quite similar on the palate. Tight dry, oaky cedary, red with a oaky vanilla finish. Young and tight but is it worth ageing.
Tasted: 2002-03-01 by AG
Prices: BC $28.95 Specialty
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

92/100 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander's Crown 1999
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States
We like this edition of the Alexander's Crown with its big dark colour and enticing nose of black fruits toasted oak and spicy mocha aromas. It has the firmness of cabernet sauvignon yet the blackberry fruit and cassis has the generosity and elegance of the Alexander Valley terroir. Quite complex.
Tasted: 2002-11-16 by AG
Prices: BC $45.99 Specialty
CSPC: 234286;   UPC: 087512922259
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
 
90/100 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alden Vineyards 1998
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States
Alden Vineyards is located on the eastern edge of the Alexander Valley, above the fog line, backed by the Mayacamas mountain range. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc thrive in the lean, stony, fast draining mountain soil. Alden has been bottled as a single vineyard since 1997. Look for ripe, sweet, spicy, peppery, smoky aromas with ripe blackberry jam and spicy licorice fruit. Dense with good acidity and extract and lots of dry '98 tannins to yet dissipate. Buy and hold through 2005.
Tasted: 2002-11-16 by AG
Prices: BC $51.00 Mark Anthony Wine Mart
UPC: 087512929913
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants