Six pillars – Napa Green

Six pillars

The Six Pillars
of Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership

All too often we hear people say sustainability is confusing, it doesn’t have a clear definition, or worse yet, it’s greenwashing. In 2021, Napa Green Executive Director Anna Brittain, heard this refrain one too many times and said, “No, there are six core pillars of leadership that anyone in the agricultural space needs to be working on to truly call themselves leaders.” These are the Six Pillars of Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership.

It is critical that we take a whole-systems approach to sustainability and climate action. It is not enough to prioritize two or three of these elements and claim leadership. We have to work systematically, from soil to bottle, from the farm through production and distribution. The Six Pillars can be used as a filter to evaluate if a business or program is truly implementing integrated, comprehensive leadership.

It is important to note that all of these pillars are interconnected. Using less water means using less energy to transport, heat, and treat that water, which means reduced costs and emissions (the “Water: Energy: Climate Nexus”). Shifting to lighter glass means reduced material use, reduced energy use for manufacturing, fewer and lighter shipments to and from the winery, with reduced emissions and costs. Caring for employees, and making them feel valued and listened to, creates teams willing to experiment and innovate to save resources, generating cost savings, reducing carbon footprint, and growing values-driven businesses.

Click on any one of the Six Pillars below to learn more, and see examples of Champion Stories from Napa Green leaders.

water efficiency
& savings

energy efficiency
& savings

waste prevention
& supply chain

soil health
& biodiversity

social justice
& DEI

climate action & regenerative ag

Whole Systems Leadership Roadmap

ENERGY

efficiency

WATER

EFFICIENCY

WASTE

PREVENTION

SOCIAL

JUSTICE

SOIL

Health

climate

action

Sustainability involves thinking systematically, integrating resource efficiency, green purchasing, climate action, and social equity into all aspects of day-to-day business.

napagreen

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Climate Action & Regenerative Agriculture! Our sixth pillar that encompasses all that we do at Napa Green. 🌼

Climate Action & Regenerative Agriculture! Our sixth pillar that encompasses all that we do at Napa Green. 🌼

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Hear from Winery Program Manager @love.dream.breathe about Energy Efficiency & Savings, one of our pillars of sustainable winegrowing leadership

Hear from Winery Program Manager @love.dream.breathe about Energy Efficiency & Savings, one of our pillars of sustainable winegrowing leadership

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We want to sincerely thank everyone who donated either space, time or proceeds of bottles/food sold to Napa Green during Earth Month! We are a small non-profit that greatly relies on donations of these kinds and we’re so grateful for our supportive community.

Let’s hear it for:

📍@trefethenfamily
📍@pineridgewine
📍@cliffamily
📍@neotempowines
📖 @karenmacneilco

We want to sincerely thank everyone who donated either space, time or proceeds of bottles/food sold to Napa Green during Earth Month! We are a small non-profit that greatly relies on donations of these kinds and we’re so grateful for our supportive community.

Let’s hear it for:

📍@trefethenfamily
📍@pineridgewine
📍@cliffamily
📍@neotempowines
📖 @karenmacneilco

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Social Justice, Equity & Inclusion. Perhaps our most important pillar of our six pillars of sustainability leadership.

Thank you for the beautiful description @growresiliently!

Social Justice, Equity & Inclusion. Perhaps our most important pillar of our six pillars of sustainability leadership.

Thank you for the beautiful description @growresiliently!

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Register now at the link in our profile! 💦

May 23, 2024
Silver Oak Winery, Oakville
9:00 am - 12:15 pm

One of the most critical agricultural concerns with our changing climate, and more frequent & intense weather extremes, is precipitation and water availability. The good news is opportunities abound to optimize irrigation efficiency, and implement regenerative practices that improve soil health, water infiltration, and retention.

Join us for The Future of Water, with highlights including a keynote from Peter Gleick, one of the world’s leading water experts, and Mimi Casteel, not only a viticulturist and winemaker, but also a forest ecologist with a vision for water resiliency.

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Join us for The Future of Water Workshop, to explore our water future, with highlights including a keynote from Peter Gleick, one of the world’s leading water experts (all guests will receive a copy of Peter’s most recent book, The Three Ages of Water) and Mimi Casteel, not only a viticulturist and winemaker, but also a forest ecologist with a vision for water resiliency.

Wine grape quality is closely tied to the right amount of water, at the right time. One of the most critical agricultural concerns with our changing climate, and more frequent & intense weather extremes, is precipitation and water availability. We’ve swung from historic drought to atmospheric rivers. Our community has huge swaths of unmanaged, unhealthy forests full of non-natives and overrun by firs, amplifying fire risk and undermining one of the most critical systems for groundwater recharge.

The good news is opportunities abound to optimize irrigation efficiency, and implement regenerative practices that improve soil health, water infiltration, and retention. A watershed coalition has also formed in Napa County to pilot and model creek & forest restoration for localized water resiliency and climate cooling.

Come learn more on Thursday, May 23rd at 9:00am at @silveroakcellars.

Join us for The Future of Water Workshop, to explore our water future, with highlights including a keynote from Peter Gleick, one of the world’s leading water experts (all guests will receive a copy of Peter’s most recent book, The Three Ages of Water) and Mimi Casteel, not only a viticulturist and winemaker, but also a forest ecologist with a vision for water resiliency.

Wine grape quality is closely tied to the right amount of water, at the right time. One of the most critical agricultural concerns with our changing climate, and more frequent & intense weather extremes, is precipitation and water availability. We’ve swung from historic drought to atmospheric rivers. Our community has huge swaths of unmanaged, unhealthy forests full of non-natives and overrun by firs, amplifying fire risk and undermining one of the most critical systems for groundwater recharge.

The good news is opportunities abound to optimize irrigation efficiency, and implement regenerative practices that improve soil health, water infiltration, and retention. A watershed coalition has also formed in Napa County to pilot and model creek & forest restoration for localized water resiliency and climate cooling.

Come learn more on Thursday, May 23rd at 9:00am at @silveroakcellars.

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Sustainably sourced ingredients with Chef Sarah Heller 🌱 Purchase your tax deductible ticket to our Opus One x Napa Green dinner at the link in our profile!

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You’re invited..

Full details may be found at the link in our profile. Cheers!

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As we wrap up an amazing Earth Month, we want to thank you all for the support & for coming to see us at our events!

Let’s keep the momentum going and remember that Earth Day is Every Day! 🌎

As we wrap up an amazing Earth Month, we want to thank you all for the support & for coming to see us at our events!

Let’s keep the momentum going and remember that Earth Day is Every Day! 🌎

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Hear from @marisataylorwines about the importance of water efficiency & savings and what we can all do to conserve this precious resource.

Hear from @marisataylorwines about the importance of water efficiency & savings and what we can all do to conserve this precious resource.

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Join us for a not to be missed dinner experience at @opusonewinery while supporting philanthropic efforts on behalf of climate action.

An intimate group of 20 guests will be in attendance on the rotunda overlooking the estate vineyards. Chef Sarah Heller will prepare a four-course, locally-sourced dinner paired with Champagne Barons de Rothschild, Opalie de Château Coutet, and three vintages of Opus One wines.

You will have the chance to share transformative conversations and form deep connections with industry leaders and change makers.

Please find full invitation details at the link in our profile.

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Happy Earth Day Napa Valley! It’s an incredible joy to work with you all and see the forward progress being made all over this gorgeous place we call home. Thank you for caring, thank you for stepping up and thank you for making a difference!! 🌎💚

Happy Earth Day Napa Valley! It’s an incredible joy to work with you all and see the forward progress being made all over this gorgeous place we call home. Thank you for caring, thank you for stepping up and thank you for making a difference!! 🌎💚

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Thanks to everyone who came out to @earthdaynapa and visited us at the @napagreen wine booth!

Cheers to @amici_cellars @cakebreadcellars @domainecarneros @handwrittenwines @robertmondavi and @whiterockvineyards for donating the certified sustainable wines to raise money for the Environmental Education Coalition of Napa County and helping make it a great event!

Thanks to everyone who came out to @earthdaynapa and visited us at the @napagreen wine booth!

Cheers to @amici_cellars @cakebreadcellars @domainecarneros @handwrittenwines @robertmondavi and @whiterockvineyards for donating the certified sustainable wines to raise money for the Environmental Education Coalition of Napa County and helping make it a great event!

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We’re pouring some stellar Napa Green wines tomorrow at @earthdaynapa to include:

@cakebreadcellars, @domainecarneros, @whiterockvineyards, @handwrittenwines, @amici_cellars & @robertmondavi!

Come by the booth! 🍷🌎

We’re pouring some stellar Napa Green wines tomorrow at @earthdaynapa to include:

@cakebreadcellars, @domainecarneros, @whiterockvineyards, @handwrittenwines, @amici_cellars & @robertmondavi!

Come by the booth! 🍷🌎

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What you can do in the vineyard & what you can do at home! 🌼🦋

#happyearthday #earthmonth #sustainability #biodiversity #pollinators #herbicidefree #napa #napavalley #cheers

What you can do in the vineyard & what you can do at home! 🌼🦋

#happyearthday #earthmonth #sustainability #biodiversity #pollinators #herbicidefree #napa #napavalley #cheers

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Come on by to @cliffamily! 💚🍴

Come on by to @cliffamily! 💚🍴

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