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Napa Green | Champion Story
Napa Green has a new milestone – the program is now 21 years old! This is an auspicious number and we want to celebrate and thank the community leaders who joined in from the beginning, and who have continued along the path of sustainability and climate action. The Napa Green Land program launched in 2004, and the complementary Napa Green Winery program launched in 2008, prompting Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, who spoke at the launch event, to observe, “I’ve been at this for 30 years and this is the best, most well-thought-out program I’ve ever seen.”
The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) stewarded Napa Green for its first fifteen years, and it is thanks to their vision and the leadership of these key founding members that Napa Green is still here to support growers and vintners in being the change in our community and industry.
Today we spotlight those leaders that joined the Napa Green Land program in the early years, from 2004-2008, committing to restore watershed health and prevent erosion. These same leaders then took the baton and transitioned to the new regenerative Napa Green Vineyard Certification, which launched in 2021. Here are just a few examples of how these members continue to build soil health, biodiversity, team engagement, vineyard resilience, and make the highest quality wines:
How it started…
In the early 2000s, the Napa River was declared by the EPA as impaired. In response, the NVV, in collaboration with more than 30 local environmental, community, and regulatory stakeholders, developed the Napa Green Land (NGL) program (est. 2004) with the goals to prevent erosion and improve the overall health of the Napa River watershed. Over time, these leading practices, facilitated by Fish Friendly Farming or the Napa RCD’s LandSmart program, were voluntarily implemented by forward thinking industry leaders.
In 2017, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board adopted vineyard Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR), making these land management and erosion control practices a regulatory requirement for vineyards >5 acres. Thanks to the broad adoption and success of these standards, the health of the Napa River watershed continues to improve and beavers and other wildlife have returned to the river and its tributaries.
How it’s going…
All things must grow and evolve. For over 16 years the original Napa Green Land program played a critical role in preventing erosion, improving the health of our watershed, and helping the Napa River begin to rebound. In 2020, what were long leading practices became a standard for being a good land manager. In 2021, Napa Green announced its new, next-level Napa Green Vineyard standards, focused on the critical issues of today and tomorrow – regenerative farming, climate action, and social stewardship. The new vineyard standards were designed by experts to provide a science-based climate action framework and regenerative roadmap custom-designed for viticulture. The standards include regenerative social practices, and plans for continuing improvement.
As part of the Napa Green Vineyard certification each member receives a customized Carbon Farm Plan that outlines opportunities to enhance soil health, increase biodiversity, create a more resilient agroecosystem, and drawdown carbon. Vineyards also receive an Irrigation Distribution Uniformity assessment, which helps members improve irrigation efficiency and performance. Members baseline and track soil health, water, energy, and fertilizer use, Scope 1 & 2 emissions, and carbon sequestration.
Shout out!
A huge thank you to the first cohort of Napa Green Land Certified (NGL) members, who paved the path for the leading practices and, without whom, the Napa Green Vineyard (NGV) program could not have evolved: Araujo Estate Wines, Beaulieu Vineyards, Beringer Vineyards, Boeschen Vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards, Cain Vineyard and Winery, Cakebread Cellars, Charles Krug Winery, Clark-Claudon Vineyards, Clos Pegase Winery, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Duckhorn Wine Company, Eagle Eye Wines, Etude Wines, Frog’s Leap Winery, Hagafen Cellars, Hall Wines, Heitz Wine Cellars, Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Merryvale, Napa Valley Reserve, Nord Vineyards, Opus One Winery, Parry Cellars, Quintessa, Robert Mondavi Winery, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Saintsbury, Schramsberg Estate Vineyards & Winery, Silverado Vineyards, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery, St. Supery Vineyards, Stags’ Leap Vineyard, Sterling Vineyards, Stony Hill Vineyard, Sutter Home Winery, Trefethen Vineyards, V. Sattui Vineyards, Volker Eisele Estate.
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.
Find out what being @napagreen certified means to @joshwidaman and the team @pineridgewine, then go for a visit and taste the love in every bottle!
#sustainablewine #regenerativeviticulture #winetasting
‼️ Save this Itinerary ‼️
Check out this itinerary by @danpetroski of participating @napagreen wineries and vineyards that contribute to the long-term health of our land and ensure that Napa Valley remains a thriving and beautiful region for future generations.
📍 @larkmeadvineyards
📍 @silveroakcellars
📍 @vsattui
Looking for holiday experiences that create deep meaningful connections and support local, sustainable businesses? Check out our climate smart itineraries - you really can’t go wrong.
#winetasting #sustainablewine #winetastingitinerary
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This is not your typical itinerary by @abrittain – wetting your palate for wine producers that are difficult, perhaps impossible, to visit. However, if you are a wine connoisseur seeking exceptional wines from sustainability and climate leaders you should absolutely put in the effort to secure wines from these @napagreen certified producers.
📍 @dominusestatewinery
📍 @lailvineyards
📍 @adamvs
Looking for holiday experiences that create deep meaningful connections and support local, sustainable businesses? Check out our climate smart itineraries - you really can’t go wrong.
#winetasting #sustainablewine #winetastingitinerary
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This itinerary is ideal for a girls’ trip or a day out with friends! Discover the sustainable side of Napa with @goodfriendsgoodfood itinerary, which celebrates diversity and offers wines tailored to a range of palates.
These @napagreen certified wineries provide beautiful settings to connect over fantastic wine, all while supporting positive change within the wine industry.
📍 @domainecarneros
📍 @rdwinery
📍 @trefethenfamily
Looking for holiday experiences that create deep meaningful connections and support local, sustainable businesses? Check out our climate smart itineraries - you really can’t go wrong.
#winetasting #sustainablewine #winetastingitinerary
‼️ Save this itinerary‼️
This itinerary by Sommelier and Vintner, @danpetroski, showcases a rich variety of regional efforts from @napagreen certified wineries with a diversity of style, size, production and profiles, where each place focuses on varies in accordance with their distinct microclimate.
Be sure to check out the second 1/2 of this itinerary to complete your visit!
📍 @ashesxdiamonds
📍 @cliffledevineyards
📍 @hydewines
Looking for holiday experiences that create deep meaningful connections and support local, sustainable businesses? Check out our climate smart itineraries - you really can’t go wrong.
#winetasting #sustainablewine #winetastingitinerary
@closduval’s bottles from Verallia are 30% lighter than traditional bottles, which represents a 34% reduction in carbon emissions from glass production alone!
Lightweight glass saves natural resources, lowers transportation costs and emissions, and reduces the risk of employee injuries. Not only is it infinitely recyclable, it’s also beautiful!
Get a bottle (or several) of this @napagreen certified wine to feel and taste the commitment sustainability from soil to bottle.
#winetasting #wineindustry #climateaction #lightenup #lightweightglassbottles
‼️ Save this Itinerary‼️
Get insider information and tips to make the most of your trip to some of @reyeswine.mw’s favorite Napa Green certified wineries with this exclusive in-the-know Itinerary.
📍 @rdwinery
📍 @sequoiagrove
📍 @schramsberg
Looking for holiday experiences that create deep meaningful connections and support local, sustainable businesses? Check out our climate smart itineraries - you really can’t go wrong.
#winetasting #sustainablewine #winetastingitinerary
‼️Save this Itinerary‼️
This itinerary, by Master Sommelier, @andrearobinsonms, will take you to @napagreen Certified wineries, where we can see and taste the commitment to our planet and our community that pays off now in great wine, natural beauty and soil health, while paying it forward.
📍 @chandonusa
📍 @grgichhillsestate @grgichhills
📍 @troisnoixwine
Looking for holiday experiences that create deep meaningful connections and support local, sustainable businesses? Check out our climate smart itineraries - you really can’t go wrong.
#winetasting #sustainablewine #winetastingitinerary
Congratulations to @twentyrowswines for @napagreen Winery Certification!
Twenty Rows crafts small lots of their Napa Valley wines, at the @fiordisolewines certified sustainable facility. These wines are not only made with environmental impact in mind, they reflect honest varietal character and showcase the terroir where the grapes were grown.
#sustainablewine #sustainablewinery #napavalleywine
‼️ Save this Itinerary! ‼️
This itinerary by @abrittain will take you to @napagreen certified, tucked away spots, run by some powerhouse women, deeply dedicated to the stewardship of the Napa Valley.
📍 @tressabores
📍 @viadernapavalley
📍 @spottswoodewinery
Looking for holiday experiences that create deep meaningful connections and support local, sustainable businesses? Check out our climate smart itineraries - you really can’t go wrong.
#winetasting #sustainablewine #winetastingitinerary
Congratulations to @etudewines for achieving @napagreen winery recertification!
Etude Wine’s sustainability initiatives encompass everything from cover crops, solar powered facilities, recycled water use and water-wise landscaping, wetland and habitat restoration, wildlife corridors, stunning pollinator gardens and more. For a truly immersive sustainability experience with expressive wines with a holistic winemaking approach.
#climateaction #winetasting #wineindustry
Being with a community of people who are excited about biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and climate resilience is good for the soil and the soul!
Whether you’re regenerative curious or ready to get regenerative certified, reach out to join this community! You’ll get access to support, resources, practical guidance, and incredible field days like this one @bedrockwines with @napagreen and @regenerativeviticulture
#regenerativeviticulture #OneBlockChallenge #climateaction
There’s still time to register for the @napagreen and @regenerativeviticulture #OneBlockChallenge informational sessions!
Register for either session at the link in our bio:
December 9th from 9:00-10:00 am
December 11th from 9:00-10:00 am
#soilhealth #regenerativeviticulture
@napagreen and @regenerativeviticulture partnered to bring the #OneBlockChallenge to Napa County winegrowers!
Tomorrow is the first virtual informational and onboarding session, so bring your questions, curiosity and excitement and hop on zoom to learn more.
#climateaction #regenerativeviticulture
Help us celebrate this historic milestone!!
100% of @napagreen’s Certified Vineyard members successfully phased out Roundup, setting a new standard for wine industry leadership.
Thank you to all of our members for your continued leadership and dedication to sustainability. Your choices impact meaningful change in our industry.
#climateaction #winebusiness #regenerativeag
What makes the #OneBlockChallenge so special? Hear from @regenerativeviticulture Co-Founder, @stephen_de_mirabeau!
The first informational session is next week so come with your questions. Learn more or get involved at the link in our bio.
#regenerativeag #regenerativeviticulture climateaction
