HARVEST BEGINS
2022 Estate Pinot Noir!
It’s an exciting time here at the Winery, as we welcomed the first grapes of 2022 on Tuesday, August 30th! Last year, we began harvest on September 1st, so we are just a few days ahead of 2021. Sonoma County experienced a spell of warmer temperatures, followed by a brief cooling period over the last few weeks which helped slow down the progression of rapid ripening in the vineyard. Beginning today, September 1st, the county anticipates a considerable heat wave with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit for several days – this will push ripening, and harvest, into high gear. Harvest, however, is not the only exciting development at the Winery recently. I’d like to have Assistant Winemaker, William Thiersch, help with providing details to recent developments we look forward to sharing with you all!
The first bin of 2022 Estate Pinot Noir processed for the sorting table
B CORP CERTIFIED
Hi, everyone. My name is William Thiersch, Assistant Winemaker here at Ron Rubin Winery. While I primarily work in production at the Winery, I also help update and maintain all current sustainability certifications. I am happy to announce that as of August 5th, 2022 Ron Rubin Winery has officially become a B Corp Certified company! Now what does this mean and how do B Corps distinguish themselves from other companies?
B Corps are mission driven companies that balance purpose and profit. B Corps are for profit companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Unlike other certifications for businesses, a B Corp certification is unique in its ability to measure a company’s entire social and environmental impact.
Over the last year and a half, we have gone through the process of reporting much about Ron Rubin Winery to B Lab about our impact on our Winery structure, workers, community, and environment. Each of these aspects of the Winery is looked under a microscope by B Lab to ensure that Ron Rubin Winery is held to the highest standard possible. This process is called the B Impact Assessment and it is how B Lab measures the impact of companies in each of these specific areas and assesses where we are excelling or possibly need improvement. B Lab looks at everything from ownership, stakeholders, mission statements and financial information on the company. This is done to evaluate the ability of the company to protect their mission and formally consider all stakeholders in the decision-making process through company structure or governing documents.
Next, B-Lab has reviewed how the Winery manages its employees and assesses how the Winery approaches their financial security, health, wellness, safety, career development and overall engagement and satisfaction. This part of the process is meant to recognize business models that are designed around benefiting the employees by treating them with respect, providing them with job security and allowing for growth within the Winery. After this, B-Lab looks at the how the Winery impacts the community around us and how connected we are with our community. This part of the process assesses the diversity and inclusion in our workforce, the economic impact we have on community around us like the use of local suppliers and employees hired from the local area, and civil engagement including donations made by the Winery to local nonprofit organizations.
The next step in the process is measuring the impact that we have on the environment and what we are doing to reduce this impact. This section of our assessment looks at many different areas of our operation including total energy use at our winery along with monitoring our Green House Gas emissions and carbon intensity, water use at the winery along with tracking of water use and water reduction methods, the wineries recycling programs, and our pest management practices along with the monitoring of biodiversity on the property.
The five impact area pillars of B Corp
The best part about all of this, you don’t have to just take my word for it. Anyone can go onto the B Corp website and look at our B Impact score to see how we impact the world around us. One of the core ideals of being a B Corp is being transparent with everyone about our business. Each year, the Winery will foster the idea of continuous improvement, and strive to improve our assessment score with each recertification. We will push to make our communities and environment a better place. In everything we do, at our winery and beyond, we believe in caring for the planet and the people who call it home. It’s a commitment that benefits our employees, our visitors, our business partners, and the community at large.
On behalf of the entire team here at Ron Rubin Winery, we wish you all continued good health!
Be Well,
