herbicide-free case studies

- CASE STUDY V -

ESTATE VALLEY FLOOR

Vineyard area:

44 acres

Site Characteristics:

Rolling hills. A few rocky areas. Some side-slope where it’s too narrow for a tractor.

Tools/Equipment used:

Handheld gas-powered weed wackers used just after weeds germinate
Gramegna tractor-mounted in-row tiller. Challenges: Slow & one-sided
Shovel
Piloting a few weed-trimmer attachments

Passes:

1 - 2 passes depending on growing season conditions

Organic Herbicides?

Tried but were expensive, ineffective, and felt their use was moving away from why we’re organic in the first place.

GRAZING?

Hire sheep before bud break (Kaos)

Tillage?

Currently, some blocks are no-till and some alternate till. Goal to be entirely no-till. Even in a dry year we didn’t see a drop in yield in no-till blocks.

Weeds of concern?

Some of the very aromatic we don’t want in the fruiting zone (e.g., hit Mare’s Tail with a targeted shovel pass). Johnson grass - tall, vigorous and deep-rooted - do worry about competition.

Aesthetics?

Fair tolerance for weeds in the vineyard. Mostly dead or dormant for core vineyard management. Some dead/dormant weeds are also shading out further weed growth.

Certification(s):

Organic
Regenerative Organic

COSTs:

Annual farming costs/acre ~$12,000

Weed Management Costs:
 Suppress (organic herbicide): $138.57/pass
Gramegna: $141.06/pass
Weedwacker: $119.70/pass ​​
Yearly Weed Management Cost/Acre =$400/acre

napagreen

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From soil to bottle - the leading sustainable wine growing certification program for Napa County Vineyards & Wineries.
Follow @risegreenwine

Fairy tale like settings? Delicious, ethically & sustainably produced wines? Yes please! 🌸

#visitnapavalley #napavalley #fairytale #winetasting #sustainablewine #cheers #winelovers #winetrip #magicmoments

🎞️: @mvino1

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Fairy tale like settings? Delicious, ethically & sustainably produced wines? Yes please! 🌸 #visitnapavalley #napavalley #fairytale #winetasting #sustainablewine #cheers #winelovers #winetrip #magicmoments 🎞️: @mvino1
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🎟️$15 wine tasting with the winemakers!? Join us at @klwines in San Francisco July 23rd & 24th tasting @spottswoodewinery, @dominusestatewinery, @chimneyrockwinery, @etudewines and many more from 4:00-6:00pm.

Pick up your tickets asap at the link in our bio!

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🎟️$15 wine tasting with the winemakers!? Join us at @klwines in San Francisco July 23rd & 24th tasting @spottswoodewinery, @dominusestatewinery, @chimneyrockwinery, @etudewines and many more from 4:00-6:00pm. Pick up your tickets asap at the link in our bio!
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⭐️ Steal this itinerary!

Cheers to Climate Smart Wines Month is back this July and we couldn’t be more excited!

We have built some truly fabulous and sustainable experiences which you can find on www.napagreen.org and this year we have included hotels as well!

Tag us in your posts when you visit our amazing Napa Green Certified wineries so we can share your Green adventures!

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⭐️ Steal this itinerary! Cheers to Climate Smart Wines Month is back this July and we couldn’t be more excited! We have built some truly fabulous and sustainable experiences which you can find on www.napagreen.org and this year we have included hotels as well! Tag us in your posts when you visit our amazing Napa Green Certified wineries so we can share your Green adventures!
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Team Green is thoroughly enjoying visiting a few of our Napa Green Certified wineries today! 🌱

Pictured here are the STUNNING new Sky Lofts at @rutherfordhillwinery. We strongly recommend a visit, it’s spectacular!

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Team Green is thoroughly enjoying visiting a few of our Napa Green Certified wineries today! 🌱 Pictured here are the STUNNING new Sky Lofts at @rutherfordhillwinery. We strongly recommend a visit, it’s spectacular!
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Wondering what this sign hung outside of the winery that you work at means? Want to be able to talk more about what it means to be @napagreen certified??

Join the Napa Green Ambassador training at Clos du Val on Wednesday, June 25 from 9-11 am to learn the answers and more.

Tickets are free but space is limited so reserve your spot from the Workshops & Events link in our bio.

#climateaction #napagreen #napagreencertified #climatesmartwinery #regenerativeag #regenerativefarming

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Wondering what this sign hung outside of the winery that you work at means? Want to be able to talk more about what it means to be @napagreen certified?? Join the Napa Green Ambassador training at Clos du Val on Wednesday, June 25 from 9-11 am to learn the answers and more. Tickets are free but space is limited so reserve your spot from the Workshops & Events link in our bio. #climateaction #napagreen #napagreencertified #climatesmartwinery #regenerativeag #regenerativefarming
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🍇 Do you want to learn more about what it means to be a Napa Green Certified Vineyard or Winery?
🍇 Do you have new team members who still aren’t sure what that Napa Green Certified sign hanging out front actually means?
🍇 Are you curious about this term that’s suddenly popping up everywhere – regenerative?
🍇 Want to know what exactly does it mean to be climate smart?

Join us Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @closduval to learn how to talk about being @napapagreen certified.

Use the event link in our bio to register.

#climateaction #wineindustry #wineindustryleadership #climatesmart #sustainablewine #sustainablewinery #regenerativevineyard #regenerativeag

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🍇 Do you want to learn more about what it means to be a Napa Green Certified Vineyard or Winery? 🍇 Do you have new team members who still aren’t sure what that Napa Green Certified sign hanging out front actually means? 🍇 Are you curious about this term that’s suddenly popping up everywhere – regenerative? 🍇 Want to know what exactly does it mean to be climate smart? Join us Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @closduval to learn how to talk about being @napapagreen certified. Use the event link in our bio to register. #climateaction #wineindustry #wineindustryleadership #climatesmart #sustainablewine #sustainablewinery #regenerativevineyard #regenerativeag
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Thank you all for making RISE Climate & Wine Symposium a success! We 70 powerful speakers and 650 guests across the six events, dozens of commitments to action, and a flood of positive, heartfelt feedback.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

📸: @briana_marie

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Thank you all for making RISE Climate & Wine Symposium a success! We 70 powerful speakers and 650 guests across the six events, dozens of commitments to action, and a flood of positive, heartfelt feedback. Let’s keep the momentum going! 📸: @briana_marie
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Congratulations to Napa Green Certified @cliffamily for winning the RISE Leadership Award for Supply Chain & Waste Management Excellence!

Clif Family attended our first conference & committed to reducing their bottle weight and waste. They set upon an inspiring journey to change their packaging based on their outdoors loving and mountaineering inspired founders. They were able to..

• lighten the weight of a case of their wine by almost 8 lbs!

• reduce their carbon output by 42 metric tons!

• institute fully recyclable, bio based shippers that keep wine cool!

• eliminate all foils!

• eliminate all plastic & metal moving fully to renewable cork enclosures!

Their customers responded with absolute enthusiasm.

“This story is not just about wine packaging or supply chain decisions. It’s about how we do business. It’s leading with values. It’s about remembering that the best way to climb higher.. is to carry less.” - Sarah Richmond, Clif Family Winery.

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Congratulations to Napa Green Certified @cliffamily for winning the RISE Leadership Award for Supply Chain & Waste Management Excellence! Clif Family attended our first conference & committed to reducing their bottle weight and waste. They set upon an inspiring journey to change their packaging based on their outdoors loving and mountaineering inspired founders. They were able to.. • lighten the weight of a case of their wine by almost 8 lbs! • reduce their carbon output by 42 metric tons! • institute fully recyclable, bio based shippers that keep wine cool! • eliminate all foils! • eliminate all plastic & metal moving fully to renewable cork enclosures! Their customers responded with absolute enthusiasm. “This story is not just about wine packaging or supply chain decisions. It’s about how we do business. It’s leading with values. It’s about remembering that the best way to climb higher.. is to carry less.” - Sarah Richmond, Clif Family Winery.
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Take action this Earth Month with Napa Green. Our team of experts is ready to assist you in achieving your climate action goals for both your vineyard and winery, no matter where you are in your sustainability journey.

🎥 @robot_productions

#earthday #earthdayeveryday #earthmonth #climateaction #sustainabilty #climatesmart #regenerativeag

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Take action this Earth Month with Napa Green. Our team of experts is ready to assist you in achieving your climate action goals for both your vineyard and winery, no matter where you are in your sustainability journey. 🎥 @robot_productions #earthday #earthdayeveryday #earthmonth #climateaction #sustainabilty #climatesmart #regenerativeag
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🍴Wednesday April, 23rd is the day NOT to miss lunch at @cliffamily!!

Come enjoy delicious food while supporting Napa Green! See you there.

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🍴Wednesday April, 23rd is the day NOT to miss lunch at @cliffamily!! Come enjoy delicious food while supporting Napa Green! See you there.
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Uniquely, Napa Green isn’t just a roadmap of leading practices. Napa Green provides an expert, boots-on-the-ground consulting team that develops:

✅ Regenerative Carbon Farm Plans (to enhance soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and carbon storage)
✅ Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Assessments (to maximize water efficiency)
✅ Integrated Resource Assessments (to reduce energy, water, waste and emissions in production)
✅ Action Plans for continuing improvement (tailored to the opportunities and goals of each vineyard or winery)

Additionally, we support soil sampling and analysis, provide resource assistance, run practical training and education workshops throughout the year, and provide valuable, hands-on guidance in meeting your climate action goals.

✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day.

📷 @buddsocial
📍 @tressabores

#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness

Open post by napagreen with ID 17885925354254471
Uniquely, Napa Green isn’t just a roadmap of leading practices. Napa Green provides an expert, boots-on-the-ground consulting team that develops: ✅ Regenerative Carbon Farm Plans (to enhance soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and carbon storage) ✅ Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Assessments (to maximize water efficiency) ✅ Integrated Resource Assessments (to reduce energy, water, waste and emissions in production) ✅ Action Plans for continuing improvement (tailored to the opportunities and goals of each vineyard or winery) Additionally, we support soil sampling and analysis, provide resource assistance, run practical training and education workshops throughout the year, and provide valuable, hands-on guidance in meeting your climate action goals. ✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day. 📷 @buddsocial 📍 @tressabores #21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
36 3

Napa Green’s vineyard team is trained to develop regenerative, whole-farm Carbon Farm Plans (CFPs). These plans review all of the current beneficial practices that are increasing soil and ecosystem health and storing carbon, and identify additional opportunities to regenerate the soil and vineyard ecosystem and simultaneously maximize carbon capture in a given property. Each vineyard’s goal is to become carbon neutral (or negative) and increase the resilience of vineyards, businesses, and our community.

✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day.

📷 @soilrainandhope
📍 @tressabores

#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness

Open post by napagreen with ID 17904030795114385
Napa Green’s vineyard team is trained to develop regenerative, whole-farm Carbon Farm Plans (CFPs). These plans review all of the current beneficial practices that are increasing soil and ecosystem health and storing carbon, and identify additional opportunities to regenerate the soil and vineyard ecosystem and simultaneously maximize carbon capture in a given property. Each vineyard’s goal is to become carbon neutral (or negative) and increase the resilience of vineyards, businesses, and our community. ✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day. 📷 @soilrainandhope 📍 @tressabores #21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
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Clear pathways for employee advancement are essential for a thriving workforce and driving success. They boost retention, job satisfaction, productivity, and attract top talent. Napa Green Certified members develop pathways for growth, discussing career goals and progress with employees during reviews.

✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day.

📷 @briana_marie
📍 @dominusestatewinery

#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness

Open post by napagreen with ID 17955217841942324
Clear pathways for employee advancement are essential for a thriving workforce and driving success. They boost retention, job satisfaction, productivity, and attract top talent. Napa Green Certified members develop pathways for growth, discussing career goals and progress with employees during reviews. ✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day. 📷 @briana_marie 📍 @dominusestatewinery #21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
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Forests are not only our largest terrestrial carbon sink, they are also home to 80% of the world’s on-land diversity. We need healthy forests, which means a balanced density of native trees and plants. Healthy forests experience lower intensity fires with less tree mortality, meaning higher carbon retention and ecosystem function.

✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day.

📷 @abrittain
📍 @seaveyvineyard

#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness

Open post by napagreen with ID 17866439883281470
Forests are not only our largest terrestrial carbon sink, they are also home to 80% of the world’s on-land diversity. We need healthy forests, which means a balanced density of native trees and plants. Healthy forests experience lower intensity fires with less tree mortality, meaning higher carbon retention and ecosystem function. ✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day. 📷 @abrittain 📍 @seaveyvineyard #21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
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Napa Green Certified Wineries benefit from an on-site Integrated Resource Assessment (IRA) led by our experienced engineers and winemakers. This IRA evaluates resource metrics, monitors progress, and identifies areas for improvement to increase efficiency and save $$$.

✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day.

📍 @materrawines

#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness

Open post by napagreen with ID 18097081342485358
Napa Green Certified Wineries benefit from an on-site Integrated Resource Assessment (IRA) led by our experienced engineers and winemakers. This IRA evaluates resource metrics, monitors progress, and identifies areas for improvement to increase efficiency and save $$$. ✅ Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with “21 Days, 21 Ways” counting down to Earth Day. 📍 @materrawines #21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
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