Certified Green

Green Medal Winners 2015 Accepting the 2017 California Green Medal Awards: (L-R) Steve McIntyre of Monterey Pacific, Inc.; Aron Weinkauf of Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery; Rhonda Hood of Francis Ford Coppola Winery; and Robert Aldridge of St. Francis Winery & Vineyard

Celebration Event Recognizes 50 Napa County Certified Green Businesses

7/17/2017 – St. Helena, CA – Last Thursday, 50 Napa County businesses were recognized for their commitment to environmental sustainability at the inaugural Napa County Green Business Celebration. Co-hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), Sustainable Napa County and Napa County, the celebration acknowledged local businesses and organizations that received their Green Business Certifications or were recertified in the past 18 months. Attendees included more than 100 business leaders, vintners and community officials.

To preserve and enhance the unique place that is the Napa Valley, Napa County was one of the first participants in the Bay Area Green Business Program, which later became the statewide California Green Business Program. In 2008, the NVV and other industry partners launched Napa Green Certified Winery, customizing the program specifically for wine producers.

Through these programs, businesses demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship by going above and beyond environmental compliance. Today, there are more than 90 Napa County Certified Green Businesses, including more than 60 wineries. Re-certification is every three years based on tracking water and energy use and waste diversion and demonstrating continuous improvement in resource conservation.

“I’m tremendously proud of Napa’s commitment to creating sustainable companies and cutting our carbon footprint,” said Congressman Mike Thompson via a pre-recorded video message. “Being a Certified Green Business isn’t just about a catchy label. It’s about commitment. It’s about making meaningful changes to minimize your impact on the environment. You’ve shown we can create good jobs and grow our economy without sacrificing our environment.” Thompson, who recently joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in Washington, DC, is an advocate for addressing climate change.

Jeri Hansen-Gill, CEO of Sustainable Napa County, emceed the program. “More than a decade ago, when the Napa Green programs were developed, it was impossible to estimate how crucial they would become,” said Hansen-Gill. “At once the Napa Green Business program is practical and symbolic; it is a guidepost for anyone who needs direction and inspiration for those who may not be sure of what to do or how to start.” Following her remarks, Hansen-Gill was joined by Chair of the Napa County Board of Supervisors, Belia Ramos, to present each honoree with a custom award made from repurposed wine bottle glass and wine barrel staves.

In 2015, NVV established the goal that all the trade association’s eligible members will be in the Napa Green program by the end of the year 2020. “We’re proud that our member wineries have made the commitment to become Napa Green Certified, but other local businesses also deserve to be recognized for their efforts,” said Emma Swain, immediate past chair of the NVV Board of Directors and CEO of St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery. “We helped create the Napa Green Business Celebration to bring like-minded locals from a variety of entities together to share our successes and challenges on the path to protecting the Napa Valley through sustainability.” St. Supéry was honored at the celebration for recently receiving their Napa Green Winery re-certification.

The event was held at Domaine Chandon, a Napa Green Certified Winery and wines, appetizers and décor were provided by Napa County Certified Green Businesses. The NVV, Sustainable Napa County and Napa County are planning to make the celebration a regular event to recognize local businesses for their sustainability efforts.

About the Napa County Certified Green Business Program

The goal of the Napa County Certified Green Business program is to preserve the unique place that is the Napa Valley. Launched by Napa County in 2006, today it is part of the California Green Business program and has evolved to include Napa Green Certified Winery, specifically for wine production facilities. Through the Napa County Certified Green Business program, businesses demonstrate their care for the environment by going above and beyond ‘business as usual.’ Napa County Certified Green Businesses use eco-friendly products and environmentally sustainable business practices. Learn more at greenbusinessca.org.

About the Napa Valley Vintners

The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its more than 530 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they call home. Learn more at napavintners.com.

About Sustainable Napa County

Sustainable Napa County (SNC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to engaging the community in issues related to energy – exploring opportunities and finding practical solutions to our challenges. SNC believes that together we can make our economy stronger, our environment healthier, and our communities more connected. Learn more at sustainablenapacounty.org.

Making the commitment to third party certification takes time and effort, but it is worth it to demonstrate our commitment to the community and to protect our watershed, our land and the air we breathe.​

Say hi to @marisataylorwines, our Winery & Climate Specialist. Marisa has supported sustainable farming and green practices from vineyard to cellar and across all winemaking operations and continues to leverage her expertise to help wineries become climate action champions. 

Thanks for all you do!
13 4
Last week we had a great climate smart burn and alternatives demonstration @gloriaferrerwinery where attendees learned techniques for a conservation/low-smoke burn with demonstrations from @thecleanburncompany and @napa.char. 

Additionally, speakers from @naparcd and Treasury Wine Estates presented the results from a recent vineyard biochar application research project. 

Learn more on our website.
20 5
Have you met Sierra, our Climate & Soil Specialist? Sierra works tirelessly to advance climate resiliency in the Napa Valley by collaborating with growers to realize their climate action aspirations. 

Say hi to @growresiliently next time you see her in the field. Thanks for all that you do, Sierra!
32 6
On average 40-60% of a vineyard and winery’s carbon footprint is from packaging and distribution alone. Join us to explore climate smart, sustainable glass, closures, the future of reusable glass, alternative packaging. Hear case studies. Learn what is truly recyclable, and new opportunities to recycle film wrap and label backing. Since 2020, climate smart marketed CPG products have doubled in sales to $3.4 billion. Wine bottles and packaging can be leveraged to meet rising consumer demand for climate smart products.

Get tickets to this workshop @pineridgewine to hear from @napagreen @consciouscontainer @revinobottles @keystonecapsules @cork_supply @neotempowines @estal_packaging @uppervalleydisposal @naparecycling and more!
37 3
You may have seen Megan, our Winery Program Manager, out and about sporting her @napagreen shirt and talking about green practices. Utilizing her background in hospitality, sustainability and engineering she is dedicated in guiding businesses toward a more sustainable future. 

Thanks for all you do @love.dream.breathe!
48 6
Join us for All Things Bottle Sustainability on Friday, April 26th. Link in bio to register!
42 1
Cheers to @abrittain! Anna has worked locally, nationally and internationally on environmental management, including leading @napagreen and @naparise to the forefront of the wine industry climate action movement. 

Keep an eye out for her with our unofficial mascot, Lily, sharing our best practices, facilitating action and growing resilience in our industry and community. 

Thank you for all you do!
76 5
We’re so pleased to announce Verallia as a new Napa Green Sponsor and excited to see their work in creating lighter sparkling wine glass bottles with Napa Green Champion @domainecarneros! 

For more info on Verallia head to the link in our profile and for more info on becoming a Napa Green Sponsor email: social@napagreen.org 🥂
18 1
We’ve had so much fun hosting and being out at events this March! It was great seeing you all at our Cutilvating Resilience Salon and Celebrate St. Helena event at @crockerstarr! 

We’re just getting warmed up because you know what next month is.. EARTH MONTH! 🌎🌱

Can’t wait to see more friendly faces celebrating our beautiful planet in April. Cheers! 🥂
62 10
Join us for a not to be missed dinner experience. Only 20 guests in attendance will be looking out over the infinity pool at Neotempo’s organic vineyard, and the beautiful view of the Vaca Mountains beyond. Award-winning Chef Dave Cruz previously of Ad Hoc, will prepare a four-course, locally-sourced dinner paired with Cristal Louis Roederer Champagne and spectacular Neotempo wines. 

You will have the chance to share transformative conversations and form deep connections with industry leaders and changemakers. Special guest Karen MacNeil will share insights on “All Things Bottle Sustainability.” 

This will be, truly, unforgettable.

Claim your tax deductible tickets for April 26th asap and support local climate action. Information may be found at the link in our profile.
85 8
Expedition Stags Leap! 🥾🍷

This is the way to our hearts! Plan your visit to Napa Green Certified winery @pineridgewine to taste the quality and learn all about climate smart practices in both the winery and vineyard! 

#stagsleap #napavalley #cabernet #regenerativeagriculture #winereels
48 2
See and learn the technique for a conservation/low-smoke burn. Join us tomorrow for this no cost event at @gloriaferrerwinery! 

The Clean Burn Company and Napachar will run their BurnBoss air curtain burner and flame-capped kiln/ring-of-fire system for processing spent vines, fire fuel thinning, and other wood waste. All three of these techniques/technologies can be used to develop biochar. 

Michael Sippiora from Treasury Wine Estates will present the results of a recent vineyard biochar application research project.

Link in profile to register, see you tomorrow!
57 2
In loving memory of the legendary Miljenko ‘Mike’ Grgich.
308 10
Thank you to all who came out for our Weed Management event! For more info check out our online Weed Management Toolkit with FAQ’s, Case Studies, Resources and more. 

🌱🚜
43 1
Cultivating Resilience in Napa Valley 🍷

A few tickets remain for the event THIS Thursday, March 14th at 3:00pm. Join Winemaker @matt_brain_, @cathycorison, @bedrockwines & @andrearobinsonms for a lively and interactive tasting of barrel samples and panel discussion. 

🎟️ Click the link in our profile to reserve your seat now.
90 3
Join us THIS Thursday, March 14th for a panel on Cultivating Resilience with @cathycorison, @bedrockmorgan, @matt_brain_ & @andrearobinsonms. 

The event is held at @freemarkabbey and begins at 3:00pm. Please get your tickets ASAP at the link in our profile. See you there!
111 4