This Growing Dartmouth Vineyard Secured Decades of Clean Energy

Nestled in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Anchor Rock Vineyards is a local winery dedicated to producing high-quality wines while creating a welcoming destination for visitors across the SouthCoast.

As the vineyard came to fruition, the team looked for ways to support its long-term vision while managing operating costs and investing in the future of the business. One of those investments was solar energy.

Anchor Rock Vineyards’ Solar Project Overview

System Size: 28.71 kW

System Design: 66-panel rooftop system across two corrugated metal roof arrays

Annual Production: 35,976 kWh

Estimated Annual Savings: $7,000-$10,000

CO₂ Reduction: 29,500 lbs per year

A Vision for the Future

Anchor Rock Vineyards began with a dream.

After years working in Boston’s financial services industry, owner Steve Barwikowski and his family set out to create something different—something rooted in family, community, and the SouthCoast of Massachusetts. In 2019, they purchased a historic vineyard property in Dartmouth and began the enormous task of bringing it back to life.

What followed was years of hard work. Historic bans were restored, thousands of grapevines were replanted, aging infrastructure was replaced, and long-term vision slowly began taking shape. Today, Anchor Rock Vineyards spans more than 28 acres and welcomes visitors across the region to experience locally crafted wines produced right on-site.

Like every major investment made at the vineyard, solar was viewed through the lens of the future. It wasn’t simply about generating electricity—it was about building a business desinged to thrive for decades to come.

This long-term mindset eventually led Steve to look into solar.

Why Solar Made Sense

For growing businesses, energy costs are an important consideration. Like many business owners, the team at Anchor Rock Vineyards was looking for ways to create greater predictability and long-term value.

Solar offered an opportunity to generate electricity directly on-site while reducing dependence on utility power.

Energy consumption is woven into nearly every aspect of wine production. From temperature controlled fermentation tanks and cooling equipment to pumps, lighting, and bottling processes, producing and store wine requires a reliable souce of energy year-round. With 14,000 vines, 19 tanks, and approximately 36,000 bottles produced annually, Anchor Rock Vineyards realized going solar gave them greater control over future energy costs. Now, their 66-panel rooftop solar system helps offset their energy demand.

Designing the System

Every solar installation begins with understanding the customer’s goals.

For Anchor Rock Vineyards, Isaksen Solar designed a system tailored to the property’s expected energy needs while taking into consideration the overall appearance of the site.

“One of the things that stood out about this project was the available south-facing roof area across the winery buildings. That gave us the opportunity to design a system that could generate strong production while fitting naturally into the property,” said Randi Amaral, the Project Manager at Isaksen Solar who oversaw the solar installation.

Bringing the Project to Life

Construction of the solar array took careful consideration between the Isasken Solar team and the vineyard.

Throughout the project, the goal remained the same: delivery a system built to perform reliably for decades to come.

“With a property like this it’s important to think about more than just production,” Randi said. “We wanted to build a system that would generate strong long-term performance while still fitting naturally with the look and layout of the vineyard. I think the finished result strikes that balance really well.”

The Finished Installation

Summer at Anchor Rock Vineyards

Besides producing a plethora of clean energy, Anchor Rock Vineyards has plenty to raise a glass to this summer. Visitors can enjoy live music, rotating local food trucks, wine tastings, and seasonal events set against the backdrop of the vineyard’s scenic grounds. What began as a passion project has grown into a vibrant gathering place where great wine, community, and the SouthCoast lifestyle come together. Whether you’re stopping by for an afternoon with friends or a special event, there’s always something happening at Anchor Rock.

Today, the completed solar installation is helping power operations at Anchor Rock Vineyards using clean, renewable energy generated right on-site.

The project represents another step forward in the vineyard’s commitment to thoughtful, long-term investment.

Thinking About Solar for Your Home or Business?

Anchor Rock Vineyards is one example of how solar can help businesses and homeowners take control of their energy future.

Whether you’re operating a vineyard, manufacturing facility, farm, office building, or home, solar can provide long-term value while reducing reliance on utility electricity.