Napa Green | Champion Story
Packaging plays an important role in customer perception. We are hearing more and more stories from Napa Green members about the benefits of greener packaging AND customers giving kudos for eliminating Styrofoam and lightening packages.
The Elegance of Lighter Glass: One weighty topic that is getting a lot of attention right now is glass bottles. Somewhere along the way bigger, heavier bottles got onerously associated with higher quality, but perceptions are starting to shift.
Years ago, I was consulting with Benziger Family Winery and we started exploring lightening up bottles. The Executive Team was worried the bottles would look cheaper. We did a lineup of bottles – the originals mixed with lighter weight options. No one could tell the difference. Benziger was able to significantly reduce shipments, with huge cost and carbon footprint savings. More recently Jackson Family Wines shaved two ounces off bottle weight across 85% of their production. This reduced their overall emissions by four percent and saved them $1 million a year.
The benefits of lighter glass include reducing raw materials, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions during production; reducing transportation emissions and costs; and reducing workplace injuries from employees lifting heavy cases of wine.
These benefits are part of why Erica Harrop, Founder and President of the Napa-based company Global Package chose to launch their Elegant Light Line™ of wine bottles that provide wineries with durable and attractive alternatives to standard-weight bottles.
One of Global Package’s Elegant Light customers is Julie Johnson with Tres Sabores Winery.
Julie also notes the shift was seamless on the bottling line and the bottom line.
Custom, Recyclable Packaging with Quadruple Benefits: In 2017, Chateau Montelena decided it was time to move away from wood boxes for wine shipments, which were expensive to ship and didn’t provide high enough protection from breakage. They decided to shift to custom-branded cardboard with individual inserts using Coastal Products pulp.
The new packaging allowed them to fit more bottles and boxes in each shipment, with significant cost savings. For instance, it reduced the number of shipments to New York from five to two. This hugely reduced the carbon footprint of shipments to and from the winery. In addition, this lighter footprint packaging reduced breakage by nearly fifty percent. And that is not to mention that the cardboard and pulp packaging is more affordable than wooden boxes.
Pushing the Envelope: Global Package is launching a new collection of Wild Glass produced by Estal Packaging, which is 100% sustainable “real cycled” and boasts a greener production process. The Wild Glass is produced from post-consumer recycled glass collected from municipalities and its production method uses lower fuel consumption.
The Wild Glass bottles are produced allowing for slight imperfections in appearance, resulting in a unique bottle that showcases their commitment to sustainability. This distinctive style of glass makes it easy for customers to identify brands that are environmental change leaders.
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.
Discover four exceptional wineries united by a commitment to sustainability, community, and thoughtful hospitality.
These wineries are not only @napagreen certified but also @bcorporation certified, and through their “B Collaborative” partnership this month, they are offering a special tasting experience: wine club members receive two complimentary tastings, and non-members can enjoy a two-for-one tasting.
Learn More by visiting these wineries.
@artesawinery
@cliffamily
@spottswoodewinery
@troisnoixwine
#winetasting #visitnapavalley
Learn why Natalie Bath, Winemaker at @ruddestate considers @napagreen an important part of their commitment of land stewardship.
#SoilHealth #WomenInWine #RegenerativeViticulture
@napagreen has had a number of growers looking for organic solutions to dealing with nematodes where vines are planted. Our partners at @lallemandplantcareusa have an OMRI approved biological solution.
Learn more in this short video!
#soilhealth #vineyardmanagement #wineindustry
Join us March 17th @grgichhillsestate to connect with cover crop expert Keith Berns, with @greencoverseed, and experienced viticulturists, to leans how you can incorporate soil health practices in your vineyard!
➡️ Registration link in bio.
#soilhealth #regenerativevineyard #covercrop
What is biochar and why is it so cool?
Hear from @napa.char to learn more.
#climateaction #soilhealth #biochar
🐝 “If you build it, they will hum” - Erin Arnsteen, Western Program Coordinator @monarchjointventure
We are grateful for everyone who attended our Biodiversity in the Vineyard workshop last week! It was an amazing day @grgichhillsestate filled with bees, birds, butterflies, a community passionate about biodiversity, and experts providing resources for building biodiversity in YOUR vineyard.
#regenerativeag #biodiversity #worldwildlife #regenerativeviticulture
Join us in congratulating Megan Scott (@love.dream.breathe), our Operations Director, on 6 years at @napagreen. Megan’s positive attitude and “can do” approach to problem solving has greatly contributed to the success of Napa Green and our members.
Thanks for your work and dedication to sustainability!
📸 @brianamarieweddings
📍 @trefethenfamily
#womeninwine #womeninstem #climateaction
Thanks to the @naparegister for publishing this Climate Connection contribution from @napagreen’s Vineyard Program Director, Ben Mackie (@soilrainandhope) highlighting the biodiversity @grgichhillsestate.
If you loved this article, you’ll love our Birds, Bees & Butterflies: Biodiversity in the Vineyard workshop happening today!
#climateaction #regenerativeag #regenerativeviticulture
Friday night dinner dilemma?
Order takeout from @southsidenapa using promo code DONATE and 20% of your order will be donated to @napagreen.
It’s a win: win! You get dinner and @napagreen gets funding to contribute our impactful climate action work in Napa Valley.
Order online or preorder your Fried Chicken Friday pickup for February 27, 2026. Don’t forget to pair it with Napa Green certified wine! 🍽️ 🍷
#dineanddonate #nonprofit #napavalley
Join us Thursday, February 26 to learn about biodiversity in the vineyard.
🍇 Ivo Jeramaz, Winemaker & VP of Vineyards and Production at @grgichhillsestate, will welcome us to the beautiful property and illustrate the various implementation of habitat diversity they have undertaken at the American Canyon ranch.
🍇 Jo Ann Baumgartner & Sam Earnshaw from @wildfarmalliance will provide insight on how to maximize bird habitat and establish hedgerows to support the local ecology.
🍇 Erin Arnsteen from the @monarchjointventure will outline how pivotal vineyard acreage can be to support the dwindling Western Monarch populations.
🍇 Cori Carlson, owner of @napapastureprotein, will explain the ecological goals of grazing a vineyard.
🍇 Ruby Stahel from the @naparcd will join us to discuss the various resources that the RCD has to support habitat enhancement on Napa properties.
🍇 @soilrainandhope from @napagreen will talk about bees!
➡️ Ticket link in bio.
#biodiversity #regenerativeag #regenerativeviticulture
Learn about the herd of cattle calmly grazing the vineyards @ruddestate, contributing to soil health and biodiversity, in our latest post from @soilrainandhope.
➡️ Link in bio.
#climateaction #regenerativeag #regnerativeviticulture #soilhealth
Thanks to @naparegister and @kcuz for this great article about the @regenerativeviticulture and @napagreen #OneBlockChallenge field day @celaniwines.
We had a great time engaging with attendees about opportunities to implement regenerative practices in their vineyards!
If you’re regenerative curious or want to learn more head to the link in our bio!
#climateaction #regenerativeviticulture
Congratulations on @napagreen Vineyard Certification to @shadybrookestatewinery!
Nestled in the picturesque heart of Coombsville, Shadybrook Estate, has shown a deep commitment to regenerative viticulture and climate action. Visit to see the natural beauty of this hidden gem.
#climateaction #regenerativeviticulture #napagreen
We love the biodiversity in this @grgichhillsestate American Canyon Vineyard!
Come learn how to integrate biodiversity in your vineyard on February 26 at this workshop with @napagreen, @grgichhillsestate, @wildfarmalliance, @monarchjointventure, @napapastureprotein and @naparcd.
➡️ Ticket link in bio.
#Biodiversity #RegenerativeAg #RegenerativeViticulture
Congratulations to @rutherfordhillwinery on achieving @napagreen Winery Recertification!
At Rutherford Hill Winery, sustainability is apparent in all of their practices. The facility is 100% solar-powered and even contributes clean energy back to the local grid. Additionally, they prioritize natural solutions, like Owl Boxes and organic farming.
Visit to experience for yourself these exceptional wines that invest in our planet’s future.
#climateaction #winetasting #sustainablewine
Biodiversity is essential for any resilient vineyard.
Join us on February 26, 2026 at @grgichhills American Canyon to learn how to integrate biodiversity within vineyard blocks.
Experts from @wildfarmalliance @monarchjointventure @napapastureprotein and @naparcd will be on hand to discuss all the various species that a vineyard can support.
Ticket link in bio.
#biodiversity #regenerativeag #regenerativeviticulture