Michael Silacci did not know what he wanted to be when he grew up. So, he took a couple of years to travel through Asia and Europe to window-shop for a profession. When he arrived in France, his knowledge of French was limited to “bon voyage”. Someone suggested that if he wanted to eat well, speak French, and earn some francs, he should harvest grapes. Two-hour lunches and fine wine were all it took to lead him down the path to winemaking— and a life spent walking among the vines.
Assuming full responsibility for all aspects of vineyard management and winemaking, Michael was named Winemaker at Opus One in May 2003. He has been at Opus One since March of 2001, first serving as Director of Viticulture and Enology.
Prior to his current appointment, Michael spent six years as winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, one year as winemaker at King Estate in Oregon, and six years at Beaulieu Vineyard as enologist and viticulturist. He has also made wine in France and Chile. He holds a master’s degree in viticulture from U.C. Davis in addition to under-graduate degrees in enology and viticulture from U.C. Davis and the Université de Bordeaux.
Embracing a holistic vision of winegrowing as the ultimate expression of terroir, Michael ensures that the connection between viticulture and winemaking at Opus One is seamless, reflecting the philosophy of founders Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi.
Opus One produces ultra-premium wines at its Napa Valley winery in Oakville, California. The 2019 vintage was released on October 1st and is distributed in all 50 U.S. States and 90 countries worldwide.
Anna Brittain is the Executive Director of Napa Green. Anna has worked locally, nationally and internationally on environmental management and policy with organizations ranging from the environmental economics think tank Resources for the Future in Washington, DC to the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Hanoi, Vietnam. She has spent a decade facilitating and growing sustainability in the wine industry, with an expertise in communications and certification standards. Anna has served as a lead sustainability consultant with Ontario Craft Wineries, Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia, Crimson Wine Group, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, and individual wineries including Benziger Family Winery and Seghesio Family Vineyards. She has helped lead the growth of the Napa Green program for over six years, and stepped into the position of Executive Director of the now independent non-profit in fall 2019. Anna has a Master’s of Environmental Science & Management from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara and a BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies from Williams College.
Join us for RISE Climate & Wine Symposium starting April 29th, 2025!
Early bird pricing is available only through March 15th so don’t delay on picking up your tickets. Remember - Napa Green Certified Members receive a special discount and information can be found in your Napa Green Newsletter.
RISE is the first of its kind Climate & Wine Symposium. Held in Napa Valley at @charleskrugwinery, put on by the team at @napagreen.
This six day event centers around the six pillars of sustainable wine growing with each day having a unique focal point and expert speakers.
Now is the time to procure your early bird pricing tickets at the link in our bio or our website: www.risegreen.org.
Please join us at RISE beginning April 29th 2025. Now more than ever, we look forward to seeing you there.
Early bird pricing is still in effect and tickets may be purchased at the link in our profile. #rise
📣 Calling All Sponsors!! RISE Climate & Wine Symposium begins again this Earth Month and it has NEVER been more important to get involved then right now.
Reach out ASAP to Anna or Megan via rise@napagreen.org if you are an interested sponsor! 🌿
Economic benefits & ROI of workshops: In a time of changing consumer trends, we want you think of us as extended members of your team. We are here to help share information of ways to not only increase your sustainability but also share with you how these things bring with them ROI, decrease in cost, consumer approval & many other economic benefits.
Join us at our All Things Bottle Sustainability Workshop on April 26th to hear from our panel of experts. Registration is $20 and the link can be found in our profile. Cheers!
‘What if things get better?’
We highly recommend you take a moment to read this beautiful piece featuring RISE Speaker @mimicasteel.
“As the predictions of climate scientists become reality, imagining a better future can feel impossible. But hope might be right beneath our feet… Mimi Casteel shows us what’s possible with regenerative agriculture.”
“Mimi’s work fills me with hope that healthy soil can create local cooling effects that bring the temperature down dramatically, remove carbon from the atmosphere, feed more people with nutrient-rich food grown on fewer acres—and give us an enriched base from which to imagine.”
Read the full story by Pulitzer finalist Karen Russell in @esquire, at the link in our bio.
Join us at WIN Expo on November 30th!
The Annual North Coast Wine Industry Expo is the largest show and conference focused exclusively on Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties and is the 2nd largest wine industry show in North America.
Use Promo Code: BEN2023 for $30 off registration. Details and website may be found at the link in our bio.
Join @agrology.ag for a Webinar on October 18th at 10:00am PST on Regenerative Agriculture Certifications: How they work and why they matter.
In the world of regenerative agriculture, third party certifications matter. These endorsements can demonstrate your commitment to sustainability. But what should you look for in a certification? And, what are the pieces that need to be in place to receive a certification?
In this webinar, Napa Green`s Anna Brittain and Ben Mackie will cover how their organization set the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry and what that means for growers everywhere. From adoption, to impact, to measurement, they will cover the basic principles of regenerative agriculture and the steps growers can take to prepare for certifications.
Sign up at the link in bio asap!
Check out the article, The Path to Zero-Emission Wine Shipping featuring our own @mkshepp of @spottswoodewinery!
This detailed article by @betsyandrews goes in depth on the various ways to decarbonize global & local wine shipping.
“With options growing for low-carbon shipping and freight, the wine industry is looking for new ways to lessen the climate impact of its global transportation network.”
Head to the link in our bio for the full piece. Well researched from a global perspective and truly a great read!
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we are honored to feature friend of Napa RISE, the incredible @__latinag!!
“A wine region can pride itself on understanding the intricacy of a well-made blend, or driving innovation of techniques and technology, but a region such as Napa Valley enriched with a lasting LatinX legacy can lead the way in uplifting the history of the many skilled hands that have cultivated and sustained the world-class wines from Napa Valley the wine-loving public has come to appreciate and enjoy today.’
As a tribute to their legacy and contributions, Gabriela Fernandez recently contributed to Napa Valley Vintners’ NAPA magazine, shining a light on the history and heritage of the LatinX community. In her penned article, she explores a story of struggle and success, honoring the courageous spirit of resilience and entrepreneurship at the heart of the community’s lasting legacy.
Find the full article at the link in our bio and catch @__latinag on the cover of @wineenthusiast this month!
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