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The Napa Green Vineyard standards were designed by experts to provide a science-based climate action framework and regenerative roadmap custom-designed for viticulture, taking a whole system approach. The standards include regenerative social practices that engage and retain dedicated teams, critical for the transition to and stewardship of regenerative agricultural and business systems.ย The Napa Green Vineyard program is the first sustainable winegrowing certification to focus specifically on climate action, regenerative farming, and social equity, justice and inclusion.ย
The Napa Green Vineyard standards are both practice and performance-based, baselining and tracking Soil Organic Matter (SOM), water, energy, fertilizer, Scope 1 & 2 emissions, and estimates of carbon sequestration, to ensure these practices are achieving real results, and continuing improvement over time.
These standards encompass more of the property and ecosystem than ever before – from what is happening underground in the soil, to what is happening in the atmosphere, to how this impacts the broader community.
We cannot have environmental or economic sustainability without social sustainability. True sustainability requires caring for the health and resilience of our environment, and the health and resilience of our employees and community, all of which contributes to the success and longevity of our businesses.
Regenerative farming is essentially synonymous with climate-smart agriculture and this concept of โcarbon farmingโ – implementing management practices that increase carbon sequestration or storage on a farm property, while simultaneously increasing soil and ecosystem health.ย ย
Premium wine grape growers already practice regulated deficit irrigation, allowing for a strategic level of vine water stress that is tied to increased fruit quality. Along with this best practice, there are expanding opportunities and technologies to maximize the performance of irrigation systems, track water use, and fine tune irrigation timing and amount (as is highlighted in the case studies
Forest Management
Forests are not only our largest terrestrial carbon sink โ they are also home to 80% of the worldโs on-land diversity, and they are critical to water capture and groundwater recharge. Because forests store so much carbon there can be a misperception that more trees always equal better. In fact, what we need are 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.
The Napa Green Vineyard certification was developed as a regenerative, whole systems roadmap specifically for viticulture. Limiting soil disturbance, including the phase out of chemical inputs, is core to regenerative agriculture. Roundup and many other synthetic chemical applications undermine and damage microbial and fungal networks, the underground โbrainโ that services the vines. Moving away from pesticides and cultivating diversity builds stability and resilience.
Climate-Smart Burning
Conservation burning is an alternative pile management and burn technique that reduces smoke and greenhouse gas emissions, generates biochar, and reduces soil damage from burns. It has been estimated that conservation burning, when managed properly, can reduce burn pile smoke pollution by 75-85%, with a significant reduction in carbon emissions as up to 50% of the vine carbon load is stored in the biochar created by the burn.ย Conservation burns burn faster, make neighbors and the Air District happy, and in the end, you get a product that you can use with compost to increase nutrient and water retention and availability.
If you would like to dig deeper and explore the certification standards please Enroll Now orย Downloadย the standards.ย There is no obligation if you enroll.ย
Napa Green is the first sustainable winegrowing certification globally to require the phaseout of Roundup, and ultimately synthetic herbicides. When we looked for a roadmap and resources for going herbicide-free we didnโt find it all in one place, so we created this Weed Management Toolkit to support our Napa Green community and other perennial growers looking to cultivate healthier soils and regenerative farm systems.ย
Napa Greenโs vineyard team has been trained in the Carbon Cycle Instituteโs protocol to develop regenerative, whole-farm Carbon Farm Plans (CFPs). These plans review all of your 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.
Irrigation Distribution Uniformity assessments are customized for each grower and provide rapid evaluation of irrigation efficiency and uniformity throughout the vineyard. Growers receive a report with recommendations to maximize efficiency and irrigation system performance, linked to vine health and fruit quality.
Uniquely, Napa Green Vineyard isnโt just a roadmap of leading practices. Napa Green provides an expert, boots on the ground consulting team that develops custom regenerative Carbon Farm Plans (to enhance soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and carbon storage) and Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Assessments (to maximize water efficiency) for each certifying vineyard property, can support soil sampling and analysis, and runs practical training and education workshops throughout the year. The Napa Green vineyard team are Technical Assistance Providers that can provide valuable, hands-on guidance in the transition to regenerative, climate-smart viticulture.
Billed annually, these fees cover a fraction of our expert staff time to facilitate certification and annual desk audits, develop resources, training and education workshops & events, and communicate the climate action leadership of our members.
Onsite Assessment & Reportย
+Review with Team (every 3 years)
Napa Greenโs vineyard team has been trained in the Carbon Cycle Instituteโs protocol to develop regenerative, whole-farm Carbon Farm Plans (CFPs). These plans review your 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.
Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Onsite Assessment & Report
+Review with Team (every 3-4 years)
Our expert vineyard team is trained in the CalPoly protocol to rapidly evaluate the distribution uniformity (DU) of your drip irrigation systems. Delivering the right amount of water, evenly, at the right time is critical to vine growth and grape quality.
Third-Party Auditor Independent Validation of Practices (every 3 years)
Independent validation that you are meeting Napa Green Vineyard practice and performance-based standards, walking the talk, is critical to marketplace assurance. Our network of third-party auditors have gone through training in the Napa Green programming, and will validate implementation of practices that our team has not been able to review.
๐๏ธ$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!
โญ๏ธ Steal this itinerary!
Cheers to Climate Smart Wines Month is back this July and we couldnโt 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!
Team Green is thoroughly enjoying visiting a few of our Napa Green Certified wineries today! ๐ฑ
Pictured here are the STUNNING new Sky Lofts at @rutherfordhillwinery. We strongly recommend a visit, itโs spectacular!
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
๐ Do you want to learn more about what it means to be a Napa Green Certified Vineyard or Winery?
๐ Do you have new team members who still arenโt sure what that Napa Green Certified sign hanging out front actually means?
๐ Are you curious about this term thatโs suddenly popping up everywhere โ regenerative?
๐ 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
๐ข Attn Wineries!! Today is last day to sign up for the Cheers to Climate Smart Wines this July!
Email winery@napagreen.org to sign up today!
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.
Letโs keep the momentum going!
๐ธ: @briana_marie
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..
โข lighten the weight of a case of their wine by almost 8 lbs!
โข reduce their carbon output by 42 metric tons!
โข institute fully recyclable, bio based shippers that keep wine cool!
โข eliminate all foils!
โข eliminate all plastic & metal moving fully to renewable cork enclosures!
Their customers responded with absolute enthusiasm.
โThis story is not just about wine packaging or supply chain decisions. Itโs about how we do business. Itโs leading with values. Itโs about remembering that the best way to climb higher.. is to carry less.โ - Sarah Richmond, Clif Family Winery.
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.
๐ฅ @robot_productions
#earthday #earthdayeveryday #earthmonth #climateaction #sustainabilty #climatesmart #regenerativeag
๐ดWednesday April, 23rd is the day NOT to miss lunch at @cliffamily!!
Come enjoy delicious food while supporting Napa Green! See you there.
Uniquely, Napa Green isnโt just a roadmap of leading practices. Napa Green provides an expert, boots-on-the-ground consulting team that develops:
โ
Regenerative Carbon Farm Plans (to enhance soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and carbon storage)
โ
Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Assessments (to maximize water efficiency)
โ
Integrated Resource Assessments (to reduce energy, water, waste and emissions in production)
โ
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.
โ
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with โ21 Days, 21 Waysโ counting down to Earth Day.
๐ท @buddsocial
๐ @tressabores
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
Napa Greenโs 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 vineyardโs goal is to become carbon neutral (or negative) and increase the resilience of vineyards, businesses, and our community.
โ
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with โ21 Days, 21 Waysโ counting down to Earth Day.
๐ท @soilrainandhope
๐ @tressabores
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
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.
โ
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with โ21 Days, 21 Waysโ counting down to Earth Day.
๐ท @briana_marie
๐ @dominusestatewinery
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
Forests are not only our largest terrestrial carbon sink, they are also home to 80% of the worldโs 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.
โ
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with โ21 Days, 21 Waysโ counting down to Earth Day.
๐ท @abrittain
๐ @seaveyvineyard
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
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 $$$.
โ
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with โ21 Days, 21 Waysโ counting down to Earth Day.
๐ @materrawines
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness
All of our members are committed to using at least 60% renewable energy, whether through on-site solar and other renewable sources or by working with @mcecleanenergy to access clean power through the grid. The impact? Over 1.2 million pounds of CO2e saved by wineries and vineyards in just one year. To put that into perspective itโs the equivalent to offsetting the emissions from driving over 1.5 million miles in a typical gas-powered car!
โ
Napa Green members implement over 120 best practices in both the Vineyard and Winery. This Earth Month, learn about 21 of them with โ21 Days, 21 Waysโ counting down to Earth Day.
๐ท @love.dream.breathe
๐ @corisonwinery
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness #renewableenergy #greenpower #greenenergy
