ENERGY EFFICIENCY
& SAVINGS
Registration opens
Workshop II: Are EVs Really Better? Understand the Emissions Tipping Points (Including MCE rebates & charger incentives)
Breakfast break w/Sponsor Bingo
Official Welcome & RISE Leadership Award
Break
Asking the Critical Questions Forum: To Till & EV or Not to Till & EV?
Catered lunch & Wine
Thank you to our exclusive event sponsor MCE.
MCE is a not-for-profit, public agency that has been setting the standard for clean energy in California since 2010. MCE offers 60-100% renewable power at stable rates, significantly reducing greenhouse emissions and reinvesting millions in local programs.
Two parallel workshops. Spend 30-35 minutes at each workshop, then groups will switch.
Hot water heating is energy and cost intensive. Join ergSol’s Monika Weiss and Treasury Americas’ Will Drayton for an actionable exploration of nascent opportunities for the wine industry–solar thermal hot water and energy storage. Learn how ergSol’s building-integrated designs provide renewable hot water while preserving winery aesthetics. Drayton will share the why, how, and outcomes of the ergSol system at their Sonoma bottling facility, and how it integrates in their plans for net zero emissions by 2030. Consider if solar thermal could make sense for your operation, both to reduce costs and increase renewable energy. As more and more operations aim to move toward energy independence, Drayton and Weiss will also share insights on the future of energy storage.
Action Opportunities:
Will Drayton is the Director of Technical Viticulture, Sustainability and Research at Treasury Wine Estates
(TWE), one of the world’s largest wine companies. Will has been with TWE since 2008, beginning in
viticulture at Etude Winery and has held many positions within the viticulture and winemaking groups.
In his current role, Will guides TWE’s US sustainability efforts in addition to technical and scientific aspects of winegrowing in California. He serves on the committee that guides the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, Chair of the PD-GWSS board for the CDFA and board member of the Los Carneros Water District.
Will holds a Master’s degree from UC Davis in Horticulture and Agronomy and undergraduate degree in
Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Will resides with his young family in Sebastopol, CA.
Monika is an environmental pioneer and management consultant with extensive national and international experience in helping people and organizations turn potential to success. She has a strong background in collaborative leadership in cross-cultural, multi-industry environments and public-private consortium. As an experienced project manager and change agent she is committed to developing sustainable organizations. Her skills include: finding organizational forms to fit the tasks of innovating a new technology; preparing the infrastructure and raising the public awareness for product commercialization; valuing diversity to create synergy. Monika’s work focus is on sustainable business strategies and renewable technologies, especially in the solar thermal realm. She holds a M.S. in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology.
Two parallel workshops. Spend 30-35 minutes at each workshop, then groups will switch.
As California mandates 35% zero-emission vehicle sales by year’s end, this workshop cuts through the confusion surrounding EVs’ environmental impact. Understand the lifecycle analysis comparing EVs to conventional vehicles, examining crucial factors like battery production, grid electricity sources, and vehicle usage. Understand the science-backed tipping points where EVs become the cleaner choice. Get practical guidance for evaluating electric cars, trucks, and tractors for your wine industry operations. Plus, get up-to-date information on available incentives, including MCE Clean Energy rebates and California CORE subsidies for cleaner off-road vehicles, which can significantly reduce your transition costs.
Action Opportunities:
Joy leads MCE’s strategy and implementation efforts for multiple transportation electrification programs. She focuses on MCE’s EV charging program and designing equitable transportation electrification options across MCE’s service area. Joy brings over 10 years of experience in clean mobility project development and management, data analysis, partnership creation with diverse stakeholders, and facilitation of strategic decision-making processes that center people first. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Outside the office: A Bay Area native, Joy enjoys grocery shopping (yes!) and exploring the region’s hidden back roads.
Self-confessed nerd and adoptive mom, Nikki has been talking and writing about cars ever since she passed her driving test. But her love of cars goes back even further than that. She first fell in love with electric cars in the early 1980s when she saw a picture of one in a magazine and thought “hey! That’s Cool!”
In 2006, Nikki purchased her first electric vehicle, a 250 watt electric scooter. While she’d planned to use it as transport while she converted her 1965 Morris Minor to electric, the old car’s rusty state forced her a different way, resulting in her buying a 1998 City El electric bubble car instead.
When she’s not working, Nikki enjoys to garden on the 1/3 acre plot she and her wife own in the foothills of the Coastal range just west of Portland Oregon, which they share with a flock of chickens, and two dogs. They’re keen advocates of slow food, and try to grow or locally source all the food they eat.
Being a nerd, Nikki enjoys all kinds of tech, but also loves a decent bit of science fiction, plays DnD, and is also the President of the League of Extraordinary Floofs, a local 501(c)(3) group of freelance mascots.
Featuring Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine and Author of “The World in a Wineglass”
Join acclaimed wine journalist Ray Isle for a multifaceted exploration of “energy” in wine – from the vitality of healthy soils to the skilled work of vineyard teams, from production and supply chain to market momentum. Drawing from his latest book “The World in a Wineglass” and two decades at the forefront of wine journalism, Isle will discuss some of the trends he’s seeing in sustainable and regenerative viticulture, and the growth in trade and consumer interest in sustainable and climate-smart wines. Through engaging storytelling and market insights, he’ll explore the intersection of fine wine and sustainable winegrowing and the opportunity for cascading benefits: enhancing wine quality, engaging new customers and building loyalty, and leveraging new marketing angles in a challenging wine economy.
Action Opportunities:
Ray Isle is the Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine and the Wine & Spirits Editor of Travel + Leisure. He writes Food & Wine’s monthly “Bottle Service” column, and oversees wine content for both brands as well as contributing regular print and online features about wine, spirits, and wine-related travel. His articles about wine, beer, food and spirits have appeared in a wide range of national publications, as well as in Best American Food Writing. He has won the IACP Award for Narrative Beverage Writing three times, the gold award from the North American Travel Journalists Association, and been nominated three times for the James Beard Award in beverage writing. He speaks regularly on wine at events around the country and is a frequent guest on national media, appearing on programs such as NBC’s Today, CBS Mornings, CNBC’s Squawk Box, American Public Media’s “Splendid Table,” and many others. His recent book The World in a Wineglass was published in 2023 by Scribner’s. Follow his wine exploits on Instagram @rayisle.
Purchase his latest book at RISE Climate & Wine Symposium.
Join Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson for an evidence-based exploration of two actively debated vineyard transitions–conservation/no-till and the pros and cons of EV tractors. Morgan Twain-Peterson MW of Bedrock Vineyards and Margarita Postoronca of CHANDON will candidly share their experience implementing conservation and no-till practices and being early adopters of EV tractors. Discover how these growers are realizing the documented benefits of dramatically reducing tillage–from enhanced soil health and water retention to reduced erosion and operational costs–while successfully navigating site-specific challenges like cover crop selection and weed management. Plus, get candid insights about where electric tractors excel–from mowing and under-vine cultivation to spraying–and where traditional equipment still plays a crucial role. This practical discussion will debate when and if to implement these climate-smart practices across different vineyard conditions.
Action Opportunities:
Andrea Robinson is a world-renowned Master Sommelier who takes the seemingly daunting subject of wine and food, and brings it down to earth for all to understand and enjoy. Robinson, one of only 26 female Master Sommeliers in the world, couples this distinction with a strong culinary pedigree as a graduate and former Dean of the French Culinary Institute, and the winner of three James Beard Awards. In addition, she has been widely featured across leading national television networks and publications as the “go-to” expert for all things wine. She and her husband John live in Napa Valley.
Morgan’s early exposure to wine and winemaking was thanks to his father Joel Peterson, who had started a small passion project called Ravenswood Winery— a job for which he was steadily not making money while working out of a small building along the big curve on Broadway. Though always enamored with the wine industry, Morgan bypassed a traditional Viticulture and Enology degree and studied History and Political Science at Vassar College. After undergrad, he enrolled at Columbia University with an eye towards a Masters in American Studies. meanwhile working at a small shop in the Upper East Side called Pet Wines. There, he met Chris Cottrell, with whom he became fast friends.
I am originally from Moldova, and I have moved to California in 2017. My journey through wine industry along with my educational background helped me discover that viticulture is my true passion. I am currently a part of Chandon Winegrowing team and my position is Viticulturist-Grower Relations. As a Viticulturist I oversee farming and vineyard operations on our Estate vineyards in Yountville and Mount Veeder (160 acres of premium Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir). My responsibilities include, but are not limited to establishing fertilization programs, generating irrigation plans, creating and overseeing organic pesticide spray program, maintaining and leading sustainability certifications. In addition to that I oversee all the vineyard operations, manage ranch supervisor, am involved in budget planning and redevelopment projects. As a Grower Relations I work with 20+ growers and brokers in 3 major regions of California – Sacramento/Delta, North and Central Coast. I enjoy the diversity of my role, because it allows me to explore both sides of the business – growing the best fruit on the Estate vineyards and working on business side by achieving yearly fruit supply plans.
MCE is a not-for-profit public agency and the preferred electricity provider for more than 580,000 customer accounts and 1.5 million residents and businesses across Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano counties. Setting the standard for clean energy in California since 2010, MCE leads with 100% renewable power at stable rates, delivering a 1200 MW peak load and significantly reducing greenhouse emissions and reinvesting millions in local programs. For more information about MCE, visit mceCleanEnergy.org, or follow us on your preferred social platform @mceCleanEnergy.
The Agriculture Energy Savings Action Plan (AESAP) helps agriculture operations by offering a variety of rebates, incentives, and financing options to help your operation reduce energy usage and costs.
Upgrading ventilation, irrigation, and other critical systems with more energy-efficient options is one way to reduce your overhead, improve production, and preserve natural resources.
Napa Green is a global leader in sustainable winegrowing, setting the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry. Napa Green facilitates systematic soil to bottle certification for wineries and vineyards, and provides the resources, tools and connections to continuously level up leadership. In 2021, Napa Green was the first sustainable winegrowing program in the world to redevelop Vineyard certification standards to focus on climate action, regenerative carbon farming, and social equity. In 2022, Napa Green and community partners launched a first of its kind, six-event Climate & Wine Symposium (Napa THRIVES now RISE) with over 65 speakers and 600 total guests.
➡️ Scroll for Speakers!
💦 Water is gold in California, where we continue to face increasingly frequent and intense droughts tied to our changing climate.
Join the acclaimed journalist and storyteller Mark Arax as he unravels the complex tapestry of California’s relationship with water, lean how to transform your water management through proven metering and monitoring strategies, hear grower experiences of transitioning to dry farming, and listen to industry experts speak about the critical question “Is Water the Solution to Heat Stress?”
Ticket link in our bio for Water Efficiency & Savings on April 29, 2025 at the Charles Krug Carriage House.
Water Efficiency and Savings Day is April 29th at @charleskrugwinery. Find information and tickets at the link in our profile ⬆️
Join us for RISE beginning on April 29th 2025! 🌱
#rise #symposium #napavalley #sustainability #winebusiness #wineindustry #napa #winery
Join us at RISE on May 7th to hear from our Speakers @cathycorison & @gracecorisonmartin! Our topic will be “Insights from 50 years of winemaking & the next generation of leadership.”
Pick up your early bird priced tickets at the link in our bio!
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.
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