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We all care about the quality of life in Napa Valley and want to be good stewards of our land and environment. This month’s Ask the Vintners column explores the Napa Green environmental certification program for local vineyards and wineries, one of the ways the wine community is working to preserve Napa Valley for future generations.
What is Napa Green?
Napa Green is a comprehensive environmental certification program for vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley. It’s one of the most comprehensive environmental accreditations in the wine industry. The program takes a soil to bottle approach, integrating sustainable management practices at every step of the winemaking process. Napa Green Land and Winery owners are independently certified by third-party entities.
What is the difference between Napa Green Land and Napa Green Winery?
The Land program works with fish friendly farming, LandSmart and Napa Valley property owners to assess their whole parcel and develop a custom farm plan. Each plan must meet and exceed environmental compliance requirements, reduce soil loss and preserve and restore sensitive habitats.
The winery program works with producers to help them understand their water and energy use and waste management. Each participant receives an audit and detailed report to help them conserve resource use at their facility.
How did Napa Green get started?
In 1998 the Environmental Protection Agency declared the Napa River impaired and the State Water Board set reduction standards for “Total Maximum Daily Load” or TMDL of fine sediment into the river. In response, vintners, growers and environmental leaders representing more than 20 nonprofits and regulatory agencies worked in partnership to develop Napa Green Certified Land. The first property was certified in 2004.
In 2007, building on the success of the Land program, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) collaborated with Napa County and the California Green Business Program to develop the Napa Green Certified Winery program, creating a comprehensive, soil to bottle sustainability certification.
Is Napa Green a program of the Napa Valley Vintners?
The NVV helped develop the Napa Green program and is one of its greatest champions, but it is a collaborative effort and all certifications are completed by independent, third-party entities. In support of its commitment to the program, in 2015 the NVV set a goal that all its eligible members (those who own more than 5 acres of vineyard, a winery or both) will be in the program by the end of 2020. To date more than 50 percent of NVV members are in Napa Green.
What has the program achieved so far?
There are more than 70,000 acres in the Napa Green Land program and 45,000 total acres have been certified. More than half of Napa County’s vineyard acreage is Napa Green Land Certified. This represents 23,000 vineyard acres across nearly 400 properties. Roughly 150 miles of year-round creeks and rivers have been evaluated and improved.
On the winery side, more than 60 Napa County wineries are Napa Green Winery Certified and an additional 60 are pending certification.
What does this mean for local residents?
Napa Green builds on the history of land stewardship by Napa Valley vintners and growers. This history includes, in part:
If I’m a wine lover, where do I learn more?
A fun way to learn more about the program is by visiting some Napa Green Certified producers. Find wine tasting itineraries and get general information about the program at napagreen.org. Ask the Vintners is a monthly column written by the Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit association. Submit your questions to ask@napavintners.com and learn more at napavintners.com.
Napa Green Facts
Making the commitment to third party certification takes time and effort, but it is worth it to demonstrate our commitment to the community and to protect our watershed, our land and the air we breathe.
Hear from @marisataylorwines about the importance of water efficiency & savings and what we can all do to conserve this precious resource.
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.
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!! 🌎💚
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!
We’re pouring some stellar Napa Green wines tomorrow at @earthdaynapa to include:
@cakebreadcellars, @domainecarneros, @whiterockvineyards, @handwrittenwines, @amici_cellars & @robertmondavi!
Come by the booth! 🍷🌎
What you can do in the vineyard & what you can do at home! 🌼🦋
#happyearthday #earthmonth #sustainability #biodiversity #pollinators #herbicidefree #napa #napavalley #cheers
Come get involved this Earth Month! 🌎🌱
🌷 Earth Day Napa - Saturday, April 20th 11am -4pm at Oxbow Commons
🌷All Things Bottle Sustainability Workshop - Friday, April 26th at @pineridgewine from 9am -12:30pm. Registration is $20
🌷 All Things Bottle Sustainability Dinner! Friday, April 26th at @neotempowines with Karen MacNeil & Chef Dave Cruz!
Message us directly or head to the link in our bio for info!
Exciting news from @amici_cellars!
In celebration of Earth Month, from now through May 11, use code NAPAGREEN for 10% off your wine purchase. Even better? We’ll donate 20% of each sale to @napagreen and their sustainable initiatives.
We are proud to be Napa Green-certified, joining their mission for environmental stewardship. Stay tuned this week to learn more about our certification and about how Napa Green is pioneering a greener future in our valley.
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#amicicellars #NapaGreen #Sustainability #WineLovers #napawine #makeyourdollarscount #deliciouswine #cabernet #winecollector
Economic benefits & ROI of workshops: In a time of changing consumer trends, we want you think of us as extended members of your team. We are here to help share information of ways to not only increase your sustainability but also share with you how these things bring with them ROI, decrease in cost, consumer approval & many other economic benefits.
Join us at our All Things Bottle Sustainability Workshop to hear from our panel of experts. Registration is $20 and the link can be found in our profile. Cheers!
📣 Don’t miss these events!
April 26th - All Things Bottle Sustainability, Pine Ridge Vineyards, 9:00am.
May 23rd - The Future of Water Workshop, 9:00am.
On April 26 we have 12+ speakers covering all aspects of climate smart glass and packaging. Digging in on the truly most sustainable recyclable/compostable/reusable options, with some product show and tell.
On May 23 we have keynotes from two incredible speakers and internationally renowned experts: Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Pacific Institute and author of The Three Ages of Water, and Mimi Casteel, vineyard manager at Hope Well Wine and forest ecologist.
Register now!
Join us for a dinner that brilliantly combines luxury and sustainability with Vintner Kia Behnia, acclaimed Chef Dave Cruz and The Wine Bible Author, Karen MacNeil!
This event will help Napa Green raise much needed funding to keep our non profit thriving. For more info head to the link in our bio or email social@napagreen.org!
Looking for great sustainable wineries to visit?
Check out the great post from @visitnapavalley featuring Napa Green Certified Wineries @grgichhills @bennettlanewinery @cakebreadcellars @cliffamily @josephphelps @stsupery and @tressabores.
Cheers to Keeping Napa Valley Forever Green!
We invite you join us at a very special wine dinner with @karenmacneilco, Chef Dave Cruz and @neotempowines to raise funds for climate action in the wine industry.
For further details please go to the link in our profile or email social@napagreen.org.
We hope to see you there. Cheers!
This #earthmonth we are partnering with the Napa Valley Vintners all month long on #30ways30days! To kick off the month we are highlighting our 6 Pillars of Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership that encompass a whole systems approach to #sustainability in the wine industry. These pillars are the foundational, driving forces for our work with our Napa Green Certified members who are leading the way in regenerative practices and sustainability.
Join in by posting about one of the pillars, then tag @napagreen and @napavintners and use #30Ways30Days along with the hashtags pictured here. Stay with us all month long to learn more about Napa Green and all of the great work being done here in Napa Valley!
Happy Earth Month! While our members celebrate the Earth every day of the year, this month is a great time to showcase those sustainability practices and tell consumers what you do to be green! Be sure to tag @napagreen in your posts, join us @earthdaynapa, and reach out for more ways to get involved!
