Seven Principles of Regenerative Agriculture: Context Limit Disturbance Armor the Soil Living Roots Build Biodiversity Phaseout Chemical Inputs Integrate Animals Grgich Hills Estate – Growing Vineyard Health, ROI, and Welcoming Companion Plants As with sustainability, building a regenerative farm system is a journey, not a destination. Grgich Hills Estate has been on this journey for […]
Read more "Grgich Hills Estate – Growing Vineyard Health, ROI, and Welcoming Companion Plants"
Natural cork is the most sustainable wine closure. Did you know that cork is made from the bark of cork oak trees? The bark cannot be harvested until the oak tree is 25 years old, and is then harvested every nine years, using ancient harvesting techniques. The bark harvest actually prolongs the life of the trees, which can live from 100 to 300 years.
Read more "Natural Cork is a Win for Planet and People"
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars has been Napa Green Certified from Soil to Bottle for over a
decade. As a part of their commitment to continuing improvement, they have established
a cross-departmental “Green Team” to engage and empower employees.
Read more "Down to Earth Month: Green Team Sustainability Leadership at Stagʹs Leap Wine Cellars"
Energy efficiency is a core priority for Napa Green Wineries, both for conservation and cost-savings. Maximizing efficiency is especially important when considering the installation of solar renewable energy. As we say, “We don’t want to solarize inefficiencies.” The more efficient the operation, the smaller the scale and footprint of the solar array, reducing the price tag.
Read more "Down to Earth Month: Going Green Energy & Incentives for EV Chargers"
When discussing reduced herbicide use or organic farming, a common argument made is that more tractor passes are required, which increases emissions and the carbon footprint of vineyard operations. However, that no longer has to be the case as electric tractors are entering the market that are competitive with, or even outcompete, conventional tractors.
Read more "Down to Earth Month: Climate Action and Electric Tractors"
By definition, sustainability rests on three pillars – People, Planet, and Prosperity. All too often sustainability is simply equated with environmental stewardship, when in fact core to sustainability is the recognition that you cannot have environmental or economic sustainability without social sustainability.
Read more "Down to Earth Month: Social Equity"
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.
Read more "Lighten Up"
April is a time of growth – when plants move from dormancy to bloom and the Napa Valley’s landscapes are lush and green, with the rivers and streams full from early spring rains. During April, we also celebrate Down to Earth month, making it a great time to think about soil health and how to manage property using “Carbon Farming.”
Read more "Silenus Winery Takes Farming to the Next Level"
Looking for some new ideas to improve water efficiency, and simultaneously save energy? Here are a few examples of what some Napa Green wineries are doing to baseline and track water use to inform decision making; engage staff through “Blue Teams;” and set ambitious and inspiring goals like becoming the first Living Building Challenge certified winery.
Read more "Napa Green Champions Make Water Efficiency Mainstream"
ZD Wines, a family-owned winery operated by the 2nd and 3rd generations of the deLeuze family, is celebrating 50 years in the Napa Valley. They are a perfect case study of how embracing sustainability can support production of great tasting, world-class wines.
Read more "For ZD Wines Sustainability is a Daily Endeavor"