Solar-Powered Legacy

When John Benson hired Hamden McIntyre to design and build the stone Far Niente winery in 1885, it’s safe to say he never imagined that more than a 100 years later, the winery he founded would be running on electricity, let alone be fully solar powered—and in a revolutionary way. In 2008 Far Niente installed the first Floatovoltaic™ solar-electric array in the world. You might be familiar with the term “photovoltaic,” and as you might guess, “Floatovoltaic” refers to the innovative technology that allows solar panels to float on our vineyard pond, soak up the sun’s rays and convert that power to electricity. This electricity provides energy for everything on the property, from the lights and computers to the equipment used in the cellar. This week, Don Ford of local CBS-TV station KPIX visited and reported on our floating solar panels. Take a look! The spot features Dolce Winemaker Greg Allen, who was instrumental in implementing the technology and continues to maintain the project.