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Sophie Arundel | The Drinks Business
At Wine Paris last week,ย The Drinks Businessโย Patrick Schmitt MW hosted a panel discussion exploring what draws international winemakers to Napa Valley. Joining him were Florence Cathiard, co-owner of Cathiard Vineyard in Rutherford; Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of Boisset Collection; and Carlton McCoy, CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates. Each had a unique perspective, having chosen Napa as the base for some of their most ambitious wine ventures.ย
Opening the discussion, Schmitt noted Napaโs deep-rooted international influence. โThe influential names of Napa were foreign,โ he remarked, citing pioneers such as Finlandโs Gustave Niebaum, Germanyโs Jacob Beringer, and the Rothschild family, who partnered with Robert Mondavi to create Opus One. More recently, investment has come from houses like AXA Millรฉsimes, Antinori, and LVMH, underscoring Napaโs global stature.
Boisset, who grew up in Burgundy but has become one of Napaโs most dynamic figures, spoke of his personal draw to the region. โThe University of Burgundy will tell you that the soils of Napa Valley are very unique. Similar to Burgundy, we (Napa Valley) have six of the most unique recorded soils in history,โ he said. While Burgundy was his foundation, Napa offered a different kind of opportunity. โAs a Frenchman, specifically coming from Burgundy, if you move to Napa, you discover Cabernet Sauvignon,โ he continued, describing his enthusiasm for Rutherfordโs terroir.
Cathiard echoed this sentiment, calling Napa โan old dream.โ She and her husband, Daniel, purchased their Rutherford estate in 2020. โWe want to be the one with a sense of place,โ she said, describing their approach as blending Bordeaux refinement with Napaโs distinct character. Their Founding Brothers blend, made with fruit exclusively from their estate, was met with early acclaim. โWe had a blind tasting recently in Londonโฆ Jancis Robinson preferred this wine,โ she revealed.
McCoy, whose company has steadily expanded its Napa holdings, emphasised the regionโs long history of quality. โFor me, as an American Master Sommelier, I was always very proud of wines in Napa Valley,โ he said. โItโs the region that really put the US on the map for luxury great wines.โ His companyโs acquisitionsโincluding Heitz Cellar and Stony Hillโare focused on preserving Napaโs heritage. โWe donโt buy them to change the names. We buy them because we already love what theyโre doing.โ
While foreign investment in Napa has often been welcomed, Schmitt posed the question of how the panellists were received upon entering such an established region. Cathiard compared her experience to Bordeaux. โWhen we came to Bordeaux 35 years ago, it was very snobbish, very closed,โ she recalled. โIn Napa, we were welcomed much more.โ
Boisset took a historical view, describing the long-standing Franco-American relationship. โThereโs a genuine, authentic American-French friendshipโฆ Ocean separates us, wine brings us together,โ he said. His business operates on both sides of the Atlantic, and he sees cross-cultural exchange as fundamental to progress.
โThis is actually the perfect electric association. This is magic.โ
McCoy, whose company recently expanded into Bordeaux with the purchase of Chรขteau Lascombes, described differing attitudes towards investment. โAmericans start open-armed and warmโฆ Whereas often the French want to see who you are first before they open the door to you,โ he observed. However, he added, โOnce the region recognised that we were actually there to be a part of that French culture and learn from itโฆ they greeted us with open arms.โ
For McCoy, the regionโs global appeal is nothing new. โOutside investment is what made Napa Valley an exceptional region because of peopleโs interest and intrigue in experimentation,โ he said. As a Master Sommelier, he had long admired Napaโs wines, considering it the region that put the US on the map for fine wine. โA great region is a combination of exceptional terroir and exceptional people. Napa attracted pioneers who never cut corners and understood the importance of making great wine every year.โ
When the opportunity arose, McCoy partnered with the Lawrence family to acquire Heitz Cellar, a historic estate he had long respected. That investment led to others, including Stony Hill and Burgess, as family-owned wineries saw the work being done and approached them directly. โWe donโt buy them to change the names. We buy them because we already love what theyโre doing,โ he explained. His team also sought out vineyards with untapped potential, such as Haynes Vineyard in Coombsville and Ink Grade on Howell Mountain, converting them to biodynamic farming.
McCoy sees Napa at a turning point, with a new generation bringing fresh perspectives and stylistic diversity. โThereโs a bit of a renaissance in Napa,โ he observed. โPeople are starting to understand there is more diversity in style and philosophy than what we saw in the โ90s and early 2000s.โ For him, Napaโs strength has always been its openness to new ideas and investment, a tradition that continues to shape its future.
Climate change has long been a pressing issue for the wine industry, with shifting weather patterns affecting vineyard yields, ripening cycles, and overall wine styles. Rising temperatures have already begun altering traditional winemaking regions, forcing producers to adapt with new grape varieties, farming techniques, and even vineyard relocations to higher altitudes. But with the recent wildfires in California, climate change has presented an even more immediate threat.
Cathiard remarked, โOf course, there is always risk, like everywhere in the worldโ, taking theย โhigh risk, high rewardโ outlook. However, she remained hopeful that fire prevention measures were improving. โWe hope it will get betterโฆ and we cross fingers, of course.โ
Boisset offered an optimistic outlook. โWe have absolutely no fear of anything but for us not to evolve,โ he stated. His companyโs vineyards across Burgundy, Beaujolais, Napa, and Sonoma are all organic and biodynamic. โOne thanks to those techniques, we make better wines, greater wines, true wines, authentic wines.โ He also praised the Napa Green programme, which promotes sustainability across the region.
To conclude, Schmitt asked how much of Napaโs success today is owed to foreign investment.
McCoy was unequivocal: โOutside investment is not a new concept. Itโs what made Napa Valley an exceptional region because of peopleโs interest and intrigue in experimentation. The Napa Valley has always been really open to outside investmentโitโs our competitive edge.โ He emphasised that while terroir is key, it is the people behind the wines who truly shape a regionโs future. โYou need to shake things up once in a while and bring people from different countries together.โ
That philosophy has certainly been central to Napaโs developmentโand if this discussion proved anything, itโs that Napaโs global appeal shows no sign of slowing.
About Napa Green: The Napa Green 501c3 is a global leader in sustainable winegrowing, setting the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry. Napa Green facilitates whole system soil to bottle certification for wineries and vineyards, and provides the expertise, boots-on-the-ground support, and resources to continually improve. Learn more atย https://napagreen.org/participating-members/.
Anna Brittain
Napa Green
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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)
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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
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As part of their commitment to sustainability, Napa Green Certified Winery members collaborate with key suppliers and utilize their purchasing power to support eco-friendly practices. In the same way, we can make a difference at home by choosing materials made from post-consumer recycled materials, and selecting reusable, recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, and non-toxic products.
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.
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness #greenpurchasing #supplychain
