Menu
worth.com
Deborah Grayson and Jonathan Russo went to Napa to learn how some of the worldβs most remarkable organic wineries are finding creative ways to grow sustainably.
The 30-mile long Napa ValleyΒ has a central place in the hearts of modern American food and wine lovers. Starting in the 1860s, Italian vignerons planted vines in the diverse soil. A hundred years later, culinary revolutionaryΒ Alice Waters of Chez PanisseΒ fame used the valley as her personal larder. Before her, legendary culinary writer M.F.K. Fisher called Napa home.
How is this famous wine destination faring in the world of heightened environmental consciousness?Β Β What are its practices regarding cultivation, processing, waste disposal, water and energy? What about the workers? Is Napa on the right carbon footprint track?
WorthΒ recentlyΒ went to find out.
All successful movements need at least one tireless promotor of the cause. Napa has this in Anna Brittain, executive director ofΒ Napa Green, a nonprofit organization worried about everything from water and energy usage to pesticides, herbicides and fungicides to social equity. To become a member of Napa Green, wineries must do much more than farm organically.
Napa Green assists wineries in their sustainable journey. For example,Β St. SupΓ©ry Estate Vineyards and WineryΒ suspected they were using too much water; so, Napa Green suggested they meter their usage. It turned out that barrel washing was consuming half. The vineyard bought power hoses. Problem solved.
Over lunch Brittain explained, βWe recently issued more stringent guidelines for membership. Many of our 647 partners wonβt qualify unless theyβre willing to make substantial changes.β
This wonβt be a problem forΒ Julie JohnsonΒ (pictured left), the grand doyenne of the ethical movement, who startedΒ Frogβs Leap, the first certified organic vineyard in Napa, with her ex-husband. Standing with her overlooking the oldest organic vines in Napa on what is now part ofΒ Tres Sabores, the winery she went on to found in 2000, Johnsonβs ideas of sustainability were all around us: the vines nestled in an inches-deep carpet of nutritional cover crops recently managed with their new crimping machine; bluebird houses in abundance; and, as she and her son Rory (winemaker at Frogβs Leap) spoke passionately about risk management, a flock of sheep munched their way past us. Dry-farmed, Johnsonβs soaked-in-terroir Rutherford Estate Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignons are outstanding.
World-renowned, with 60 percent exported,Β Opus OneβsΒ winery is a complete departure from Tres Saboresβ rustic pomegranate tree-lined fields. Housed in an impressive stone and glass architectural monument, for many, Opus One represents the pinnacle of Napa wines. But, as was explained to us by their decades-long winemakerΒ Michael Silacci,Β the Opus One story has always been one of deep concern for the earth. They are certified organic and took an 11-year foray into biodynamics. Opus One empower workers, hand harvests, uses cultivated yeasts from their own fields and is working on a carbon recapture plan.Β Silacci views himself as a steward of the 170 acres and has a zen-like quest for balance. βUntil we all wake up in the middle of the night worrying about the planet, nothing will change,β he said.
Opus One is one of Napa Greenβs most ardent supporters and receives their highest ratings.
One mile north on the St. Helena Highway, St. SupΓ©ryβs winemakerΒ Brooke ShenkΒ enumerated their green efforts: βWe re-use all water ending up on our floors, filter with diatomaceous earth previously sent to the landfill, generate 100 percent of our electricity needs with solar panels, have motion-activated LED lights, 100 bluebird and 10 owl boxes, βmowβ our fields with sheep, collect water in seven reservoirs and useΒ biocharΒ (burned vines) to hold moisture in our soil.βΒ Β Napa Green guided them through these initiatives, and St. SupΓ©ry proudly displays their logo on each wine bottle. Fortunately, these efforts have the complete support of St. SupΓ©ryβs owner, fashion house Chanel.
Everything from their Sauvignon Blanc to their Cabernet Sauvignon have very high James Suckling ratings.
First planted in 1882 by viniculture pioneers,Β Spottswoode Estate WineryΒ bought the land in 1972 and was one of the first vineyards to be certified organic in 1992. Today, theyβve gone one step beyond and are alsoΒ Demeter certified Biodynamic. According to educational winemaker Molly Sheppard, the woman-owned wineryβsΒ CEO Beth Novak MillikenΒ is βmanic in her pursuit of changing for the better.β In the fields, they are ahead of Napa Greenβs guidelines, so they can focus on providing their employees with full benefits. Some might say this good karma has been repaid asΒ The Wine AdvocateΒ has awarded their red wine 100 points and Suckling has consistently scored them in the high 90s.
One of the founders ofΒ Cade WineryΒ was Californiaβs current governor, Gavin Newsom. Cade is unusual in Napa. At 1,700 feet, itβs high above the fog line. Their buildings are allΒ Gold LeedΒ Certified. (They missed Platinum status as they are too far from public transportation.) Along with working only when natural light is available through their many windows, the walls are insulated with recycled denim jeans. During our tour withΒ winemaker Danielle Cyrot,Β we were awed by the unique caves buried in the hillside. Instead of a rectangular room, the architect created labyrinthine, curved tunnels of smooth concrete (high fly ash content), with ends that disappear from sight. We expected 007 in hot pursuit of a Spectre agent to thunder past from around a bend. Surprisingly, like many of their Napa compatriots, Cade does not tout their organic credentials on their bottles, primarily because pre-pandemic, 80 percent of their wines were sold to restaurants.
A nearby mountain winery isΒ Adamvs,Β which Denise and Stephen Adams founded in 2008 after successfully transforming a moribund St. Emilion winery into a Grand-Cru biodynamic business. And theyβre doing the same here. Now certified biodynamic, the vineyard is a series of small plots, nestled between swaths of forest. A truly pastoral farm, two donkeys guard manure-producing chickens. The result? Wine so coveted that their 2,000 cases are sold only toΒ membersΒ and high-end restaurants, like Per Se and Jean-George.
In Napa, you can sleep green, too. Two luxurious options areΒ Carneros Resort and SpaΒ in Napa andΒ Bardessono Hotel and SpaΒ in Yountville.
Carneros is a member of Preferred HotelβsΒ Beyond Green,Β which requires environmental and socially responsible practices. Spread over 28 bucolic acres and abutting open fields with grazing cows, many of Carnerosβ individual cottages have sweeping views. Their restaurantΒ FarmΒ is run by Napa native executive chef Jeffrey Jake, who grows many of the restaurantβs fruits and vegetables on site. Artfully presented dishes highlight local ingredients coaxed to the most sophisticated level (try the duck). The wine list is focused on local and sustainable selections. Two notable choices are Littoraiβs Pinot Noir and a rich Zinfandel fromΒ Brownβs,Β a minority-owned local vineyard.
Perfectly located in the heart of the Napa Valley, a block from the iconicΒ French Laundry,Β liesΒ Platinum Leed Certified Bardessono. With 82 geothermal wells, solar energy and reclaimed building materials (like tufa stone from old wine cellars), this is a minimalistic architectural oasis in an area where the βfarmhouseβ look predominates. BardessonoβsΒ Lucy Restaurant and BarΒ creatively uses the hotelβs and locally sourced organic and biodynamic products. The miso soup (almost a full meal) and buckwheat pappardelle with rabbit sausage are uniquely delicious standouts in Napa cuisine.
Two very different dining choices, both promoting ethical wines, are Press and Brix.
PressΒ provides an elegant experience in a triple-height ceilinged, fireplace-dominated room. Sample dishes youβve probably never encountered, like octopus with mole and truffles. Other appetizers include tuna tartare with fennel flowers, trout collar with miso, smoked sea scallops with shinko pear and a memorable ricotta gnudi with matsutake whey and mushroom essence. Among the wines on their outstanding list is aΒ Rudd Cabernet SauvignonΒ worth savoring.
For a casual meal and a menu with something for everyone, tryΒ Brix. While we were toasting our last night in Napa, local royalty, the Mondavi family, were at a nearby table celebrating a birthday. Menu staples, like mac and cheese and burgers, are situated side-by-side with forest mushroom risotto and caramelized sea scallops.Β Merry EdwardsβΒ vibrant organic Pinot Noir pairs with a range of menu choices.
Summing Up: The last words go toΒ Linsey Gallagher, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley: βThe issue around climate change is very real here, especially in the last three years. The wildfires had a profound impact; people are taking healing the earth seriously by putting time into creating sustainable practices. Iβm seeing real passion.β
About Napa Green: The Napa Green 501c3 is a global leader in sustainable winegrowing, setting the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry. Napa Green facilitates whole system soil to bottle certification for wineries and vineyards, and provides the expertise, boots-on-the-ground support, and resources to continually improve. Learn more atΒ https://napagreen.org/participating-members/.
Anna Brittain
Napa Green
+1 805-636-3329
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram
Team Green is thoroughly enjoying visiting a few of our Napa Green Certified wineries today! π±
Pictured here are the STUNNING new Sky Lofts at @rutherfordhillwinery. We strongly recommend a visit, itβs spectacular!
Wondering what this sign hung outside of the winery that you work at means? Want to be able to talk more about what it means to be @napagreen certified??
Join the Napa Green Ambassador training at Clos du Val on Wednesday, June 25 from 9-11 am to learn the answers and more.
Tickets are free but space is limited so reserve your spot from the Workshops & Events link in our bio.
#climateaction #napagreen #napagreencertified #climatesmartwinery #regenerativeag #regenerativefarming
π Do you want to learn more about what it means to be a Napa Green Certified Vineyard or Winery?
π Do you have new team members who still arenβt sure what that Napa Green Certified sign hanging out front actually means?
π Are you curious about this term thatβs suddenly popping up everywhere β regenerative?
π Want to know what exactly does it mean to be climate smart?
Join us Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @closduval to learn how to talk about being @napapagreen certified.
Use the event link in our bio to register.
#climateaction #wineindustry #wineindustryleadership #climatesmart #sustainablewine #sustainablewinery #regenerativevineyard #regenerativeag
π’ Attn Wineries!! Today is last day to sign up for the Cheers to Climate Smart Wines this July!
Email winery@napagreen.org to sign up today!
Thank you all for making RISE Climate & Wine Symposium a success! We 70 powerful speakers and 650 guests across the six events, dozens of commitments to action, and a flood of positive, heartfelt feedback.
Letβs keep the momentum going!
πΈ: @briana_marie
Congratulations to Napa Green Certified @cliffamily for winning the RISE Leadership Award for Supply Chain & Waste Management Excellence!
Clif Family attended our first conference & committed to reducing their bottle weight and waste. They set upon an inspiring journey to change their packaging based on their outdoors loving and mountaineering inspired founders. They were able to..
β’ lighten the weight of a case of their wine by almost 8 lbs!
β’ reduce their carbon output by 42 metric tons!
β’ institute fully recyclable, bio based shippers that keep wine cool!
β’ eliminate all foils!
β’ eliminate all plastic & metal moving fully to renewable cork enclosures!
Their customers responded with absolute enthusiasm.
βThis story is not just about wine packaging or supply chain decisions. Itβs about how we do business. Itβs leading with values. Itβs about remembering that the best way to climb higher.. is to carry less.β - Sarah Richmond, Clif Family Winery.
Take action this Earth Month with Napa Green. Our team of experts is ready to assist you in achieving your climate action goals for both your vineyard and winery, no matter where you are in your sustainability journey.
π₯ @robot_productions
#earthday #earthdayeveryday #earthmonth #climateaction #sustainabilty #climatesmart #regenerativeag
π΄Wednesday April, 23rd is the day NOT to miss lunch at @cliffamily!!
Come enjoy delicious food while supporting Napa Green! See you there.
Uniquely, Napa Green isnβt just a roadmap of leading practices. Napa Green provides an expert, boots-on-the-ground consulting team that develops:
β
Regenerative Carbon Farm Plans (to enhance soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and carbon storage)
β
Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Assessments (to maximize water efficiency)
β
Integrated Resource Assessments (to reduce energy, water, waste and emissions in production)
β
Action Plans for continuing improvement (tailored to the opportunities and goals of each vineyard or winery)
Additionally, we support soil sampling and analysis, provide resource assistance, run practical training and education workshops throughout the year, and provide valuable, hands-on guidance in meeting your climate action goals.
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
π· @buddsocial
π @tressabores
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
Napa Greenβs vineyard team is trained to develop regenerative, whole-farm Carbon Farm Plans (CFPs). These plans review all of the current beneficial practices that are increasing soil and ecosystem health and storing carbon, and identify additional opportunities to regenerate the soil and vineyard ecosystem and simultaneously maximize carbon capture in a given property. Each vineyardβs goal is to become carbon neutral (or negative) and increase the resilience of vineyards, businesses, and our community.
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
π· @soilrainandhope
π @tressabores
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
Clear pathways for employee advancement are essential for a thriving workforce and driving success. They boost retention, job satisfaction, productivity, and attract top talent. Napa Green Certified members develop pathways for growth, discussing career goals and progress with employees during reviews.
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
π· @briana_marie
π @dominusestatewinery
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
Forests are not only our largest terrestrial carbon sink, they are also home to 80% of the worldβs on-land diversity. We need healthy forests, which means a balanced density of native trees and plants. Healthy forests experience lower intensity fires with less tree mortality, meaning higher carbon retention and ecosystem function.
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
π· @abrittain
π @seaveyvineyard
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
Napa Green Certified Wineries benefit from an on-site Integrated Resource Assessment (IRA) led by our experienced engineers and winemakers. This IRA evaluates resource metrics, monitors progress, and identifies areas for improvement to increase efficiency and save $$$.
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
π @materrawines
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
All of our members are committed to using at least 60% renewable energy, whether through on-site solar and other renewable sources or by working with @mcecleanenergy to access clean power through the grid. The impact? Over 1.2 million pounds of CO2e saved by wineries and vineyards in just one year. To put that into perspective itβs the equivalent to offsetting the emissions from driving over 1.5 million miles in a typical gas-powered car!
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
π· @love.dream.breathe
π @corisonwinery
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness #renewableenergy #greenpower #greenenergy
As part of their commitment to sustainability, Napa Green Certified Winery members collaborate with key suppliers and utilize their purchasing power to support eco-friendly practices. In the same way, we can make a difference at home by choosing materials made from post-consumer recycled materials, and selecting reusable, recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, and non-toxic products.
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness #greenpurchasing #supplychain
Napa Green Certified Vineyards implement climate-smart burn practices, such as Conservation Burning, Flame Cap Kilns, and Air Curtain Burners. These practices reduce smoke and emissions and create biochar. Biochar is re-fossilized wood that provides long-term carbon storage. Even more compelling, when inoculated and applied with compost, biochar aids in water retention and increases water and fertilizer efficiency.
β
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with β21 Days, 21 Waysβ counting down to Earth Day.
π @gloriaferrerwinery
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
