Number of Fixtures:
26Uniformity (Avg/Min)
3.1 fcThe Backstory:
As a leading distributor in the wine and spirits industry, E. & J. Gallo Winery, home to brands including Barefoot Wine, Apothic, and Dark Horse, needed a lighting solution to align with its sustainability initiatives and ESG goals. The contractor of the project, Ledbetter Construction, approached LED Lighting Supply to help its customer achieve these goals.
The Customer's Challenge:
The lighting project required a solution to improve nighttime visibility and safety across the open grounds while reducing energy costs and carbon footprint. Considering these factors, E. & J. Gallo Winery decided to explore solar LED options.
Historically, lighting came as an afterthought for the winery, creating challenges while deciding on the proper lighting solution. Because of this, both the winery and Ledbetter Construction relied on LED Lighting Supply to guide them through lighting layout considerations, recommend the appropriate solar fixtures, and help define performance expectations from the ground up rather than simply supplying the products. LED Lighting Supply understood the requirements to deliver consistent illumination while preserving E. & J. Gallo Winery's environmentally friendly legacy.
The Strategy & Solution:
Our Product Specialist, Jake Hoffman, worked closely with the contractor to deliver on these requirements with consultative support. Their customer requested a solar lighting system that could be mounted to their existing 25-foot poles throughout the 8,300 square foot facility, which included several distinct environments requiring their own foot-candle (fc) values.
- Driveways & access roads: 2-5 foot-candles for safe navigation
- Walkways & pedestrian areas: 1-3 foot-candles for optimal visibility
- Security & perimeter zones: 3-5+ foot-candles to improve surveillance efforts
- Accent & architectural lighting: <1-2 foot-candles to maintain ambiance without glare
With these requirements in mind, Jake provided a hand-selected product recommendation, suggesting they mount 50 Watt Solar Area Lights on their existing poles across the property. This fixture delivers 7000 lumens at 5000K color temperature and is designed for off-grid exterior lighting, ideal for lighting up an outdoor area of this size.
Following the initial installation, the Winery moved forward with a second phase of lighting upgrades. For this phase, the original fixture option could not be used due to its non-standard, customized bronze finish. To solve this issue, LED Lighting Supply’s Product Team introduced a new solar option closely matching the original fixture. This recommendation ensured a seamless color match and consistent appearance across the property. In total, 26 fixtures were installed between both lighting upgrade phases.
The Results:
The completed lighting project delivers a well-balanced and highly functional outdoor system while significantly advancing the winery’s ESG goals. By strategically placing solar area lights across the existing poles, the project eliminated the need for additional construction while reducing reliance on grid electricity, energy consumption, and prioritizing overall environmental impact. The lighting levels are carefully controlled to minimize light pollution and preserve the natural environment.
This solar-based LED system directly supports their net-neutral project goal by minimizing reliance on grid power, reducing carbon footprint, and aligning the lighting with their sustainability legacy and practices. The result is a reliable, low-maintenance solution that supports the winery’s environmentally responsible mindset.
