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Hello Napa Green Community,
As we close out another eventful year, I’m reflecting on all I have to be grateful for, including our team, members and community. Thank you for joining us at the RISE Symposium and other workshops and events, for getting certified or re-certified, and for championing the Six Pillars of Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership.
This past month has been a whirlwind, as we announced our industry-leading herbicide phaseout. We’ve received significant media and consumer support, including this Wine Enthusiast coverage, “Why Napa Green’s Glyphosate Ban is Such a Big Deal.”
Nikki Silvestri of Soil and Shadow led a transformative Implicit Bias Training at Dominus Estate on Nov. 30. We had a Town Hall at St. Supéry Estate on Dec. 7 and over 70 growers, vintners and other community members joined us to learn more about the Napa Green program evolution, including the herbicide phaseout initiative. Thank You to Dominus and St. Supéry for hosting these events, and to special guests Ivo Jeramaz (Grgich Hills), Ashley Anderson-Bennett (Cain), and Erik Dodd (Wight Vineyard Management) for sharing your insights on herbicide-free vineyard management.
Much of the content of this newsletter is related to financial resources that could help support your 2024 sustainability and climate action goals. Together, we’re looking forward to continuing to accelerate action and impact in the new year.
Cheers, Salud, Santé! May the holidays and new year be filled with Peace, Joy and Love.
Anna Brittain, Executive Director
As a part of the RISE Climate & Wine Symposium in April 2023, Napa Green partnered with three champion members (Spottswoode, Chimney Rock, and Boisset Collection) to host a series of fundraising dinners to support regional industry sustainability and climate action. In total, these dinners raised over $60,000 to provide small matching grants for growers and vintners with the greatest financial need to implement impactful sustainability and climate action projects.
Potential Project Examples
*Note: We also have $300 available per Vineyard member to support soil sampling analysis.
See the full GRANT GUIDELINES HERE, and apply via this GOOGLE FORM by FEBRUARY 2, 2024.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has opened another round of SWEEP grants to support water efficiency and GHG reduction. SWEEP can help fund the purchase of flow meters, Variable Frequency Drives, and tools like Tule Technologies to more precisely target the timing and amount of irrigation. Applications are due January 26, 2024 and must include a pump efficiency test. The Napa Green team can help support your SWEEP application and organizing a pump efficiency test. Email vineyard@napagreen.org.
CDFA will be opening another round of Healthy Soils funding funding on January 8 to support compost application, expansion of cover crops, etc. Note that in most cases you can’t apply if the proposed practices have already been implemented on the acreage within three years. This will be a brief window, with applications due by January 26, 2024.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has announced a new round of incentives for emissions-reducing vehicle and equipment upgrades, including agricultural equipment, and supporting infrastructure. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis so it’s important to apply ASAP. The final deadline is March 28, 2024.
January 11 | 1-3 pm – Weather Whiplash: Let’s Talk 2023 Vintage
Please join us for a special salon conversation, moderated by Andrea Robinson MS., Cathy Corison, Owner & Winemaker at Corison, Matt Brain, Winemaker at Alpha Omega, and Morgan Twain-Peterson MW, Owner & Winemaker at Bedrock Wine Co. will join in conversation around navigating and adapting to climate extremes and weather weirding from one year to the next, with a focus on the 2023 vintage. Guests will get to try a few samples of the 2023 vintage.
Location: Alpha Omega
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
February 15 | 9 am-1 pm – Weed Management Equipment & Tools
Learn from Inglenook, Grgich and other growers, and dealers from Clemens, Gramegna and Fischer, about equipment and tools being used for herbicide-free and organic weed management. See tools in action and ask questions.
Location: Inglenook
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
February 28 (Date tentative) – Grazing for Vineyard Health and Fire Resilience
We are partnering with the Napa Valley Grapegrowers to host a grazing workshop in February. Stay tuned for more details on our Events page: https://napagreen.org/events-
Study after study shows the majority of consumers want to support values-driven businesses, but they need to be able to quickly identify third-party certified sustainable products. Leverage your leading sustainable winegrowing certification, build consumer loyalty, tell new feel-good stories, and help us achieve the goal of Napa Green logos on two million labels by 2025!
Did you know: The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business releases an annual “Sustainable Market Share Index” based on a review of >70,000 CPG (consumer packaged goods) SKUs across 36 categories. The 2022 report showed products marketed as sustainable grew ~2x faster than conventional counterparts, with a 5-YR CAGR of 9.4% vs. 5% for non-sustainable. Sustainability-marketed branded products had a price premium of 27.6%.
The logo use guidelines and applications are available here: https://napagreen.org/member-
We are excited to announce a new Napa Green Stewardship Sponsor, Verallia. Verallia joined us at this year’s RISE Climate & Wine Symposium, and is deeply committed to both reducing their own manufacturing emissions, and working with clients to maximize glass packaging sustainability and elegance. We look forward to more collaboration with them on glass-light-weighting and other circular economy initiatives.
If you are interested in being a Napa Green sponsor, please see our Sponsorship Deck.
Napa Green is grateful to our sponsors, who help fund our expanding operations and programs. If you are interested in becoming a Napa Green Sponsor please reach out to Napa Green Executive Director, Anna Brittain.
Book your exquisite food & wine experience at @bcellars this August and support the wonderful work being done in climate smart winemaking!
#winery #winetasting #wineandfood #chef #napa #napavalley #climatesmart #sustainability #winereels #cheers
Thank you to all who came out to @complinewineshop for Vino & Vinyl featuring Napa Green winemakers!
We love getting out into the community and talking all things green!
📸: @tisharoundtown
Book your visit to @sterlingvineyards this August and receive 50% off your tasting while supporting Napa Green! 🍷🚠
#cheers #climatesmartagriculture #winery #napa #napavalley #visitnapavalley #winetrip #winwin
Join these rockstars of winemaking this week at @complinewineshop for Vino & Vinyl night featuring all Napa Green Certified Wineries!
🗓️: Thursday, July 18th
📍: Compline Wine Shop
⏰: 7:00pm
Get your tickets now at the link in our bio! 💃🍷
@tressabores, @ashesxdiamonds, @spottswoodewinery, @closduval, @larkmeadvineyards, @complinewineshop, @tisharoundtown
Plan your tasting at @phiferpavittwine in August! 🍷
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
We are thrilled to officially kick off our ‘Cheers to Climate Smart Wines!’ campaign with the first press release going out and the announcement of the involvement of 21 of our Napa Green Certified members!
Join us in the month of August at a participating winery to celebrate the beautiful harmony & synergy between sustainability and luxury while supporting a great cause!
Full details at the link in our profile. Cheers to Climate Smart Wines!!
You’re invited..
Join us for a fun night featuring some awesome Napa Green wineries! Link in profile for tickets. 🎵🍷
📍: @complinewineshop
🗓️: Thursday 6/18/24 7:00-9:00pm
🎟️: Linked in profile
Plan your tasting at the beautiful new Garden Pavilion at Napa Green Champion winery @whitehalllane!
Help support Napa Green while sipping on delicious Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot amongst the scenic views. Cheers to Climate Smart Wines! 🍷
#napavalley #winereels #sustainability #winetasting #winetrip #visitnapavalley #cheers #vineyardviews #winelovers
Plan your trip to @cliffamily this August for our ‘Cheers to Climate Smart Wines’ campaign!
Clif Family Winery & Farm will be creating a beautiful food and wine tasting menu for the month of August with a percentage going straight to support Napa Green!
Plan your visit to the tasting room, food truck or gorgeous Enoteca Private Tasting Salon in August to enjoy great food & wine while helping to support this important initiative!
#napavalley #sustainability #napa #cheers #winereels #winetasting #visitnapavalley #winebusiness #wineindustry #winetrip
We’re thrilled to announce our ‘Cheers to Climate Smart Wines’ campaign starting in August!
Several of our champion members will be curating special offerings to support Napa Green and highlight the brilliant work being done in Climate Action here in Napa Valley.
Join us this August and visit @spottswoodewinery & @mkshepp!
Economics of Organics on June 25th at @grgichhills. Register at the link in our bio.
🎙️: @soilrainandhope
🎞️: @mvino1
Team Green outing today at the stunning @boeschenvineyards as we celebrate big things that we can’t wait to share with you! 🌿
One of the main resistances to phasing out glyphosate is increased labor and equipment costs. However, the costs of herbicides and fertilizers have risen dramatically, so increased labor demands can be offset by reduced supply chain purchases.
In addition, leaders like Grgich Hills Estate have shown that regenerative organic farming can be cost-effective. According to an analysis by Brotemarkle Davis & Co. LLP accounting firm, the average annual per acre cost of vineyard management in the Napa Valley is $14,800, with $3,800 in depreciation. At Grgich, they spend $11,000 per acre, with only $1,300 in depreciation due to the longer life of their vineyards.
Learn from regional leaders about the practical costs, benefits, and ROI of herbicide-free, organic, and regenerative vineyard management.
Confirmed Speakers:
• Ivo Jeramaz, Grgich Hills
• Phil Coturri, Enterprise Vineyard Management & Winery Sixteen 600
• Brad Kurtz, Gloria Ferrer
• Brenae Royal, St. Supery
• Rebekah Wineburg, Quintessa
Register at the link in our bio.
“Storytelling is key… and sustainability is the most important topic in wine.”
Thank you @elinmccoy for an incredible and insightful conversation with @napagreen members about the stories most likely to capture journalists attention.
