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The Napa Green and Beyond Green Vineyard certification standards were designed by experts to provide a science-based regenerative roadmap and climate action framework 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. Our vineyard certification is the first sustainable winegrowing certification to focus specifically on regenerative farming, climate action, and social stewardship.
The standards are composed of six elements and are both practice and performance-based, baselining and tracking Soil Organic Matter (SOM), water, energy, fertilizer, Scope 1 & 2 emissions, and scientifically rigorous quantification of carbon sequestration, to ensure these practices are achieving real results, and continuing improvement over time.
This is a whole property certification, encompassing the full agroecosystem – from what is happening underground in the soil, to what is happening in the atmosphere, to how this impacts the broader community.
Roundup & Glyphosate
In fall 2023, Napa Green announced that all members will have to phase out the use of Roundup and other glyphosate-based products by the end of 2025. As of July 2025, over 90% of Napa Green members are Roundup/glyphosate-free. The next target is the elimination of all synthetic herbicides by the end of 2027. We also have a Gold Level that gives added recognition to Organic certified members.
Learn more about the certification process through our Certification Roadmap.
What is the Difference Between Napa Green and Beyond Green?
Our roots are in Napa. Over the past 21 years, beginning with the stewardship of the Napa Valley Vintners, and now as an independent nonprofit, we have established one of the most rigorous, whole system sustainable winegrowing programs in the world.
Over the years growers and vintners from other wine regions have asked about the opportunity to work with Napa Green’s expert team. In 2025, Napa Green is expanding its reach under the region-agnostic brand “Beyond Green,” which offers the same leading services and certification. Napa Green remains the nonprofit and the Napa Valley brand.
As Beyond Green rolls out there are limited spaces available to join the expanded program. Napa Green will prioritize beyond-Napa properties owned or in the same portfolio as current Napa Green members.
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.
At its core regenerative agriculture is about farming for soil health and diversity below- and above-ground, building resilience. As growers build the underground “brain” of microbial and fungal networks, improve water infiltration and retention, use cover crops to add nutrients and attract beneficial insects and birds that control unwanted pests, bring animals into the vineyard to serve as natural tillers and fertilizers, plant hedgerows and trees that can further enhance diversity, water, and carbon storage, they create farms that are more and more self-regulating, needing less and less human intervention and inputs.
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 vineyards are replanted there is also the opportunity to strategically plan and design for dry farming. Water is arguably the resource most impacted by climate change.
Forest Management
Forests are not only our largest terrestrial carbon sink – they are also home to 80% of the world’s 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 “brain” that services the vines. Moving away from pesticides and cultivating diversity builds stability and resilience.
Climate-Smart Burning
Open burning of spent vines and other wood waste creates black carbon, a powerful greenhouse gas, and generates community pushback. Napa Green has developed resources to implement conservation burning, and formed relationships with contractors available to provide flame-cap kilns and air curtain burners (competitive in price with chipping). These alternatives dramatically reduce smoke and emissions, can generate biochar, and reduce soil damage from burns. Pursue burn methods that burn faster, make neighbors and the Air District happy, and in the end, generate a product that you can use with compost to increase nutrient & water retention and plant availability.
If you would like to dig deeper and explore the certification standards please Enroll Now or Download the standards. There is no obligation if you enroll.
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 didn’t 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.
The California wine industry is already recognized as a global leader in both wine quality and sustainable winegrowing. Napa Green/Beyond Green Vineyard takes this to the next level and establishes rigorous standards for regenerative farming, climate resilience, and social stewardship.
Napa Green’s vineyard team has been trained in the Carbon Cycle Institute’s 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, our Vineyard Certification doesn’t just provide a roadmap for leading practices. We provide expert, boots on the ground support. The vineyard team are Technical Assistance Providers that can provide valuable, hands-on guidance in the transition to regenerative, climate-smart viticulture. The team supports soil sampling and analysis, and organizes practical training and education workshops throughout the year.
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 & Report
+Review with Team (every 3 years)
Napa Green’s vineyard team has been trained in the Carbon Cycle Institute’s 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.
The regional Napa Valley delegation for the Great Wine Capitals is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Best of Wine Tourism Regional Awards.
Don’t forget to submit your @napagreen certified winery for the Best of Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices!
Submission Deadline: September 1, 2025
#sustainablewine #ecotourism #sustainablewinery #climatesmartwine
Did you know that Napa Green is 21 years old? We want to celebrate and thank the community leaders who joined in from the beginning, and who have continued along the path of sustainability and climate action.
The @napavintners (NVV) stewarded @napagreen for its first fifteen years, and it is thanks to their vision and the leadership of these key founding members that Napa Green is still here to support growers and vintners in being the change in our community and industry.
Timeline: Napa Green Land was established in 2004. Napa Green Winery was established in 2008. The Land program ended in 2021, replaced by the new regenerative Napa Green Vineyard program.
#wineindustry #winebusiness #environmentalstewardship #climateaction #sustainablewine
What is Napa Green? Watch to find out! ⬆️
🎥 @robot_productions
#climateaction #regenerativeviticulture #regenerativeag #climatesmart #sustainablewine
That’s a wrap on Cheers to Climate Smart Wines, but you can continue to visit our amazing participating wineries to taste their delicious climate smart wines!
@spottswoodewinery
@mummsparkling
@phiferpavittwine
@domainecarneros
@etudewines
@chimneyrockwinery
@mvinowines
@pineridgewine
@chandonusa
@rutherfordhillwinery
@cliffamily
@tressabores
@beringervyds
@vsattui
@frankfamilyvineyards
@seaveyvineyard
Want more climate smart wines? Visit our website for a complete list of certified members and follow along for more itineraries.
#visitnapavalley #napavalleywines #climatesmartwines #sustainablewines #sustainablewinemaking #winetasting #ecotourism #climatesmart #wineindustry #sustainablewine
🍷 Our last itinerary for Cheers to Climate Smart Wines and it’s a good one! Thank you @frankfamilyvineyards, @aubergedusoleil & @seaveyvineyard!
Follow this itinerary for a stunning day in Napa!
Book your tastings at @napagreen certified @chimneyrockwinery @etudewines and @domainecarneros and stay at the luxurious @carnerosresort for a day that will delight all of your senses!
#visitnapa #winetasting #winetastings #winelover #sustainablewine #wineandfood #winecountry #winecountryliving
If you missed last night’s amazing climate smart wine tasting @klwines you can join us tonight Thursday, July 24 for another great lineup of @napagreen certified wineries @dominusestatewinery @chimneyrockwinery @domainecarneros and @beringervyds
You won’t want to miss this! Ticket link in bio.
#winetasting #winetastings #climatesmartwine #sustainablewine #sustainablewinery
📍Phifer Pavitt Wines in Calistoga!
A gorgeous family winery & vineyard that goes above and beyond in climate smart practices and quality of wine! 🍷
Can’t make it to Napa? Experience climate smart wines @klwines in downtown San Fransisco.
Join us Wednesday, July 23, 2025 to taste wines from @napagreen certified members @spottswoodewinery @pineridgewine @etudewines and @frankfamilyvineyards
You won’t want to miss this! Ticket link in bio.
#winetasting #winetastings #climatesmartwine #sustainablewine #sustainablewinery
Come join us this week at @klwines!! Tickets can be found at the link in our bio. Cheers! 🍷
😍 This one is a gem! Book your tastings at Napa Green Certifed @mummsparkling & @spottswoodewinery and enjoy a stay at the incredible @solageauberge!
Sustainability & Luxury truly make a great pairing. Cheers to Climate Smart Wines! 🍷
🎙️: @mvino1
⚠️ Don’t sleep on this one! Get your $15 tickets to taste INCREDIBLE wines from @spottswoodewinery, @dominusestatewinery, @chimneyrockwinery and many more at @klwines in San Francisco on July 23rd & 24th!
You know where to go ➡️ link in bio or www.napagreen.org. See you there! 🍷
📣 Calling all wine lovers! We’re partnering with some amazing wineries, restaurants and resorts to celebrate Cheers to Climate Smart Wines Month and we’re giving away an incredible ‘Experience Napa Valley Day’ to one lucky winner! 🍷
The winner will receive:
✨A one-night stay at @solageauberge
✨Wine tastings at @seaveyvineyard and @rutherfordhillwinery
✨A gift certificate to @charlies_nv
How to Enter:
1️⃣ Make sure you’re following @napagreen & @visitnapavalley
2️⃣ Like this post
3️⃣ Tag your favorite wine lover in the comments.
🙌 Bonus Entry: Share this post to your stories and tag us!
Giveaway ends Friday, July 18th. Winner will be announced here and contacted via DM by Monday, July 21st.
Legal Terms:
Must be 21+ and a legal resident of the U.S. to enter. Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Instagram. No purchase necessary to enter. Winner will be selected at random and must respond within 48 hours to claim the prize. Travel and additional expenses NOT included.
Good Luck! 🥂
Sustainability is beautiful 🌼
Experience this wine tasting itenerary for yourself on your next trip Napa Valley! 🍷
#sustainabletravel #winetasting #winetrip #napavalley #napawine #climatesmart #winelovers #cheers
Fairy tale like settings? Delicious, ethically & sustainably produced wines? Yes please! 🌸
#visitnapavalley #napavalley #fairytale #winetasting #sustainablewine #cheers #winelovers #winetrip #magicmoments
🎞️: @mvino1
🎟️$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!
