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Frog's Leap Jumps into Green Winemaking

By Dan Mitchell

Updated on: July 18, 2008 / 6:13 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Frog's Leap Winery in the Napa Valley is one of a small but growing number of wineries that uses "dry farming" â€" a technique that obviates the need for irrigation by managing soil so that it stores rainwater, with its only escape being into the roots of a grapevine.

As with the many other environment-friendly growing methods used by Frog's Leap seen in this BNET video report, the company isn't doing it to save the earth. It's doing it to save money and make better wine.

In 2005, Frog's Leap spent $600,000 on a solar energy system, and the winery has been carbon-free ever since. It saves $50,000 a month on electric bills. "Financially, fiscally, it makes sense," says Jonah Beer, the winery's general manager.