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Kelly J Hayes | WineInk
I was in Four Dogs Wine and Spirits looking for a bottle of a particular California Chardonnay, when I heard a woman behind me ask the wine guy, โCan you help me find some organic wines? I need to make a change.โ
What a refreshing request. The wine guy was equally refreshed and began to walk around the stacks of wine, pulling bottles from here and there that met the womanโs criteria.
I couldnโt help myself and picked up a bottle of Primitivo from the Italian selections and interjected, โI like this one and itโs made from certified organically grown grapes in Italy.โ
Both the wine guy and the woman liked my suggestion, and the wine made its way into her case of organics. I have no way of knowing, but Iโm hoping she enjoyed the Lunaria โ Ruminat Primitivo 2020 that I suggested, made from the Italian Primitivo grape that we know better as Zinfandel. I am guessing she did, as it is delicious.
But the major theme of the experience โ as Earth Day approaches and just a week after the United Nations issued its most dramatic warning yet about the impacts of climate change โ is that this woman, a longtime local, was making a conscious decision to make a contribution to improving the state of the world by improving her selection of wines. Amen.
It may take a village and it may take the broader financial forces on Earth to save the planet, but it all starts with a single action, much like the one I witnessed at Four Dogs.
To be clear, despite being a gift from the Earth and something that man has produced in conjunction with mother nature since the beginning of recorded time, wine can be a messy business. The carbon footprint of winemaking and distribution has many impacts on the environment.
Consider the initial process of growing grapes: While there are concerted attempts to โgreenโ the landscape, there are still winemaking concerns around the world that use chemicals and fertilizers in the vineyards, harvest by machine, and use vast quantities of water in the production process. And without doubt the biggest toe in the industryโs footprint is the amount of fuel and energy it takes to package wine in bottles โ very heavy glass bottles โ and then transport them to consumers around the globe.
But, like the woman in Four Dogs, there are entities in the wine industry who know that they โneed to make a change.โ
On an individual level, the last decade has seen a significant shift by many wineries to take their vineyards to organic status, or even further, to certified biodynamic status. In these cases, wineries make changes to their ecosystems that will allow them to be certified by various monitoring bodies and label their bottles as organic or biodynamic.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for a wine to be labeled as organic โboth the growing of the grapes and their conversion to wine must be certified. This includes making sure grapes are grown without synthetic fertilizers and in a manner that protects the environment and preserves the soil. Other agricultural ingredients that go into the wine, such as yeast, also have to be certified organic.โ
A study published by Market Research.com in 2021 showed there was โ20% annual growth in 2019 and 2020โ of the production of organic wines and estimated that there are 1,500-2,000 organic wine producers in the world today. And much of that growth is financially motivated because there have been people around the planet who, like the lady in Four Dogs, feel better about uncorking a bottle of wine grown in a vineyard that is pesticide free.
But, in addition to those wineries that go through the process to achieve actual sanctioning, there is a far larger group of wineries that have become cognizant of improving the way they meet the challenges of a changing landscape. No pun intended.
In 2019 Familia Torres of Penedes, Spain and Jackson Family Wines of California โ both family-owned entities with international operations throughout the world โ partnered to form International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). The stated focus of the organization is to enlist wineries in programs that commit them to โreducing their greenhouse gas emissions, improving their land stewardship, protecting biodiversity, and being socially-responsible, locally-engaged businesses.โ
In less than three years, the IWCA has created a three-tier qualification system that encourages member wineries to achieve โGold Statusโ and strive to create winemaking operations that are powered by at least 20% onsite renewable energy while demonstrating a consistent reduction of emissions. The IWCA has developed a methodology to measure a wineryโs greenhouse gas emissions footprint. The spreadsheet lets individual wineries begin to track their current output and measure improvements.
Some of the most prominent wineries on Earth โ including Cullen Wines in Margaret River Australia, Chรขteau Troplong Mondot in Bordeaux, France, and Californiaโs Silver Oak/Twomey and Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery โ are members of the growing organization that will likely be a significant player in quantifying and reducing carbon emissions in the decades to come.
โWe enthusiastically support IWCA in its mission to decarbonize the wine industry so as to be actively engaged in protecting our planet and our agriculturally-based businesses from the worst of climate change,โ says Beth Novak Milliken, President & CEO, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery about their involvement.
Then there are regional organizations that are taking a role in cultivating best practices in both vineyards and the relationship between the industry and the communities that they live in.
In Californiaโs Napa Valley, a flourishing environmental program called โNapa Greenโ provides certification to wineries and vineyards that take comprehensive steps to protect and improve the environments where wines are grown and made. Napaโs history of stewardship extends back to 1968, when citizens helped establish the first Agricultural Preserve in America. Napa Green programs began in the early 2000s as a natural extension of that legacy. The goal is to take practical steps to limit the impacts of winemaking on the land in the Napa Valley and, where possible, make improvements.
This year the organization adjusted to the ever-changing environment by restructuring its sustainability standards and introducing a certification program called โNapa Green Vineyardโ with a focus on key concerns that include climate action, regenerative farming, and social equity.
In an industry as global and diverse as wine, it is difficult to make rapid changes. But what is clear is that, as we approach Earth Day 2022, there are forces for good who are making substantial efforts to address the challenges of climate and social concerns. As long as there are professionals and consumers โ like the woman in Four Dogs โ who are opting to make changes, things will continue to get better.
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)
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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
#21days21ways #earthmonth #earthday #climateaction #regenerativevineyard #climatesmart #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #environmentalleadership #wineindustry #winebusiness #renewableenergy #greenpower #greenenergy
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
