NAPA GREEN NEWS

Over the past month there are times I’ve felt powerless – both against the forces of nature and how to help all of those impacted. I wish Napa Green could do more to help our community, our industry, and our members as we recover from these fires. It has been a challenging time personally, as my mother’s home burned down in Deer Park (photo below), and she also lost a home in the 2017 Tubbs Fire.
 
At the same time it is inspiring to see our community band together and push forward. Napa Valley wines continue to be made even where fire damage extends right up to the doorstep, and amidst all of the uncertainty of smoke taint. I am reminded that as our Napa Green members take climate action and build climate resilience it doesn’t just benefit our businesses and region, it sets an example for the broader wine and beverage industry. This is part of why we are looking forward to rolling out our new Napa Green Vineyard certification standards early next year, focused on climate action, regenerative agriculture and social equity.
 
This newsletter includes services you may want to take advantage of in the coming weeks and months – free irrigation efficiency assessments from the RCD, Irrigation Hose and Hazardous Waste collection days, solar cleaning if your panels are covered in soot and ash.
 
This newsletter also highlights an important change for our Napa Green Winery program. To support the work of ensuring the Napa Valley wine industry operates as sustainably as possible and provide you with the resources to meet your stewardship goals, the Winery program is evolving. As you know, in January 2020 Napa Green became an independent nonprofit. When Napa Green was under the umbrella of the NVV all certification services were offered free of charge, but with this important organizational shift Napa Green needs to adopt a certification fee structure comparable to other sustainable winegrowing programs. These fees will cover a portion of the staff time that goes into facilitating certification, annual desk audits, re-certification and interim assistance. We will be rolling out annual fees in April 2021, with discounts for existing members and those directly impacted by the fires.

We are grateful for your continued support and participation as we work to help make Napa County more sustainable and resilient. This call to action is ever more critical as the impacts of climate change are becoming all too real. 

Sincerely, 
 
Anna Brittain, Executive Director, Napa Green
Napa Green Sign

Napa Green Winery Certification Fees

While our work continues to be supported in part by industry partners, a Napa Green Winery Certification Fee is necessary to ensure the continued longevity of Napa Green.
 
We hope you see the value and benefits of the services that we offer. Over the past five years Napa Green has identified more than $1.8 million in energy savings opportunities for winery members, helping them save more than $900,000 on electricity costs alone. Napa Green wineries have saved more than 12,500,000 gallons of water and 1,900,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.
 
In developing our Napa Green Winery Certification Fees we looked closely at the costs of the three other U.S. sustainable winegrowing programs that offer winery certification – California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing; Sustainability in Practice (SIP), and LIVE (in OR and WA). The new Napa Green Winery costs will be comparable to these other programs.
 
As of April 2021, new enrollees will pay a one-time application fee of $100-300, and all members will pay annual licensing fees based on production. Every three years there is the additional investment for the full (years 1, 6, 12) or Abbreviated (years 3, 9, 15) Resource Audit, which identifies efficiency and cost-savings opportunities.
 
Discounts for current Napa Green Members:
  • 10% discount on first year’s fees, and comprehensively certified members (Winery and Land) receive an additional 5% discount.
  • Members who own more than one Napa Green Certified Winery will receive a stair-stepped 3% discount on licensing fees for each additional winery that is certified. This will apply to the fees for all wineries.
  • In 2021, wineries directly impacted by the 2020 fires will receive an additional 5% discount.

Free Irrigation Efficiency Assessments

Our partners at the Napa County Resource Conservation District have underwriting to offer free irrigation assessments for vineyards, a $2,000 value. Results from the irrigation evaluation help growers easily identify opportunities to improve water use efficiency and performance of their irrigation systems and vines. Interested growers only need to provide 2-4 hours of field assistance to complete the evaluation.

Working closely with the Napa RCD and developing custom drip uniformity protocols has enabled Renteria Vineyard Management to accurately and efficiently irrigate specifically designed precision farming zones with confidence. With these capabilities, we’ve increased yields and quality.

 If interested reach out to Miguel Garcia, Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager, at miguel@naparcd.org or 707- 690-3122.
drip hose

Drip Irrigation Hose & Hazardous Waste Collection Events

Do you have any drip irrigation hose or hazardous waste for disposal? Collection days are coming up on Nov. 6 and 13th.

Drip Irrigation Hose Collection (see guidelines above):
Friday, November 6 from 9 am to 2 pm
Drop off: Enter at Pestoni Family Winery, 1673 Highway 29
For more information call Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling, 707-963-7988
 
Hazardous Waste Disposal
Friday, November 13 from 1 pm to 4 pm
APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED and there is a fee for disposal
Drop off: Napa County Fairgrounds, 1401 N. Oak St., Calistoga | Enter at Boys & Girls Club parking lot
For more information call or email Upper Valley Waste Management at 707-259-8330 or upvalleyrecycles@countyofnapa.org

Post-Fire Solar Cleaning

Do you need your solar array cleaned after the fires, or want to set up an ongoing maintenance plan? Pura Vida Solar Company can handle jobs of all sizes. They have recently provided solar cleaning services at the Napa Valley Vintners, Circle R Ranch, and Shifflett Estate.

This company has great reviews, and there is also another reason to support them. Pura Vida provides life changing employment to individuals in recovery from addiction, applying the principles of hard work, patience, and dedication. Employees are held to the highest standards of conduct.

Cleaning your solar panels is personal for us. We hope that we can help you maximize the efficiency of your system and we hope that you will help us to continue to provide purpose and direction to our community members who need it most.

To learn more and get a quote contact owner Alex Wignall at 707-968-1555 or admin@pvsolarcoa.com.

Napa Green Sponsors

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.

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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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Join us for All Things Bottle Sustainability on Friday, April 26th. Link in bio to register!
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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!
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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 🥂
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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! 🥂
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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.
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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
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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!
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In loving memory of the legendary Miljenko ‘Mike’ Grgich.
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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. 

🌱🚜
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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.
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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!
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