Cheers to Founding Winery Leaders

Climate action leadership is critical for driving systemic change, inspiring innovation, and leading community reliance by setting bold climate-forward goals, fostering collaboration and building resilient communities. The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) launched the Napa Green Winery program in 2008 focused on climate-smart practices in wine production and hospitality. This harvest, we’re celebrating 21 years of Napa Green, and the community leaders who have pioneered sustainability and climate action with us from the beginning. 

"I've been at this for 30 years and this is the best, most well-thought-out program I've ever seen."
Yvon Chouinard
Founder of Patagonia

Here is a well deserved spotlight on those leaders that joined the Napa Green Winery program in the early years, from 2008-2010, committing to energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste reduction, climate action and social justice. Here are just a few examples of how these members continue to ensure these practices are achieving real results and continuing improvement over time while making the highest quality wines:

  • Beringer Vineyards: Beringer is committed to renewable energy, in addition to their solar array, they utilize a CCA to provide 100% renewable energy to their facilities. 
  • Boeschen Vineyards: In addition to being one of the first Napa Green Certified wineries, Boeschen has shown outstanding commitment to social equity by becoming the first Napa County winery to provide vineyard workers hazard pay and disaster insurance
  • Chateau Boswell Winery: Château Boswell utilizes an ingenious cooling system that circulates cool air from 70-foot underground shafts to cool their cave facility, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional HVAC systems. 
  • Clos Du Val: In addition to pouring by the glass wines in the tasting room, eliminating bottles, Clos Du Val has also transitioned to 30% lighter than traditional bottles, which represents a 34% reduction in carbon emissions from glass production new Clos du Val bottles are 30% lighter than traditional bottles and represent a 34% reduction in carbon emissions from glass production
  • Etude Winery: Etude generates carbon-free electricity from the rooftop array that covers approximately 90% of the electricity needs on-site, additionally, they use recycled water to irrigate their impressive pollinator habitat. 
  • Larkmead Vineyards: To create a varied ecosystem, Larkmead focuses on building beneficial populations by planting native species that attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
  • Merryvale Vineyards: Merryvale is committed to protecting and preserving the environment through conservation, renewable energy and sustainable farming practices. 
  • Opus One Winery: Opus One recognizes that sustainability practices benefit the winery, their neighbors and their customers. From shipping to hospitality, Opus One aims to make responsible choices in every part of their business. They recognize these efforts as physical reminders of our responsibility to ensure a positive lasting impact on the people, the environment, and the communities they serve.
  • Peju Province Winery: Peju Province Winery’s sustainability efforts focus on organic and sustainable vineyard practices, and implementing green initiatives at the winery, including solar panels for renewable energy and a commitment to pollution prevention and resource conservation. 
  • Robert Craig Winery: Robert Craig Winery is committed to sustainability, demonstrating their dedication to environmental practices from the vineyard to the cellar. The winery’s initiatives include water conservation with low-flow faucets and managed water usage, energy efficiency with LED lighting, the use of sustainable paper products, and investing in a nitrogen generator to reduce transportation emissions.
  • Schramsberg Vineyards: In addition to being one of the founding leaders of Napa Green, Schramsberg started a strict recycling program in the 1980s for glass, metals, plastic, cardboard, paper, wooden pallets and other material generated throughout the production process
  • Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery: As one of the first wineries to achieve both Napa Green Vineyard and Winery certifications, Spottswoode’s commitment to exceptional environmental stewardship goes beyond certifications and includes climate action, advocacy, organic, biodynamic and regenerative farming, as well as social equity, justice and inclusion.
  • Stags’ Leap Winery: In the cellar, Stags’ Leap winery uses lighter glass bottles and natural corks, and their wine caves eliminate the need for energy-intensive cooling. 
  • Sterling Vineyards: Sterling Vineyards prioritizes sustainability through a commitment to 100% renewable energy and the installation of solar panels, efficient water use with drought-resistant plants and rainwater harvesting, comprehensive wildfire mitigation and erosion control, and sustainable farming practices
  • Trefethen Family Vineyards: With multiple solar arrays across the estate, Trefethen was one of the first wineries to offset 100% of their electricity usage with on-site solar power. In addition, they make continual improvements to energy efficiency, water conservation, waste diversion, responsible sourcing, and employee engagement. 

Let’s raise a glass to the founding certified Napa Green Wineries, continuing to lead the industry.

About napa green

Napa Green is a global leader in sustainable winegrowing, setting the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry. Napa Green facilitates systematic soil to bottle certification for wineries and vineyards, and provides the resources, tools and connections to continuously level up leadership. In 2021, Napa Green was the first sustainable winegrowing program in the world to redevelop Vineyard certification standards to focus on climate action, regenerative carbon farming, and social equity. In 2022, Napa Green and community partners launched the first of its kind, six-event RISE Climate & Wine Symposium (formerly THRIVES) with over 65 leading speakers and 40 “Sustainable Services & Solutions” partners and sponsors.

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