It is out with the old and in with the new for Napa Green, which is now the first winegrowing certification program in the world to redevelop and overhaul their sustainability standards.
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Sam Jones | Napa Valley Register
It is out with the old and in with the new for Napa Green, which is now the first winegrowing certification program in the world to redevelop and overhaul their sustainability standards.
The organization’s new model — called the Napa Green Vineyard program — officially replaced the Napa Green Land program on Jan. 1, and the 42 members transitioning will have a year to adapt to the new regulations.
According to Napa Green’s Executive Director Anna Brittain, these 42 participants represent about 5,200 vineyard acres in the Napa Valley area.
“This all launched in 2004 with Napa Green Land, and at the time, those were really cutting-edge practices to prevent erosion and sediment runoff,” said Brittain of the now-defunct model. “In 2017 — and this is kind of what you want to have happen — those became a regulatory compliance requirement, so we sort of hope that with our new cutting- edge standards, in 10 years those will be a compliance requirement.”
At a basic level, the revised Napa Green Vineyard program looks at issues that were not at the forefront of the certification when the first version was drafted, most notably including climate action, regenerative farming and social equity. As a result, the program now has six main elements: conservation burning; tree and forest preservation; restricted pesticides; water efficiency; carbon farming; and inclusion — each of which has a set of mandatory and optional actions to take to meet certification requirements.
“It was time to really level up,” said Brittain. “But what we say to everyone is you don’t have to be an A-plus student to get certified … Everyone has to be like, B-plus to A-minus as I put it, and then they get an action plan.”
This action plan thus consists of tangible changes the vineyard crews can make, whether it be infrastructurally, administrative or mental. Such items include implementing annual performance reviews for staff, hiring farmworkers year-round rather than seasonally, installing flow meters to track water use, replanting with drought-tolerant rootstocks, and many, many more.
“They have to do more than a hundred things to be winery certified and another hundred things to be vineyard certified, so it’s overwhelming,” said Brittain. “We’re trying to make that manageable.”
Recertification for this new program will take place every three years, and during the site review, staff will update the vineyards’ new (and mandatory) Carbon Farm Plans.
“Then, we do annual desk audits to make sure they are still doing these things, and then we can see if any of the team members left and if any new ones come on, and we can get them up to speed with everything,” said Brittain.
One of the first five vineyards to be fully certified with the new program is Sequoia Grove Winery, where the director of vineyards Jake Terrell has been prioritizing sustainability for the past five years.
“Napa Green looks at the holistic view of sustainability,” he said. “You have your social side, so how you treat employees, do they have good healthcare, your safety, are you buying locally, is there room for advancement with your employees?
“And then they have the economic side, which is, are you actually a sustainable business that can continue to be going on and on for years?”
“And then, of course, like most people focus on, is the environmental side, which is, I think, especially in farming, where we actually have the most impact or can potentially have the most impact,” he added.
Sequoia Grove is active in the restoration of the Rutherford Reach, contributes to the Save the Redwoods League and is a member of the “1% for the Planet” group, but the work they do onsite is by far the most impactful. Terrell and his winery counterpart, assistant winemaker Kelly Allyn, say the winery is now fully powered by renewable energy through the Deep Green program with Marin Clean Energy, in addition to the company’s water reclamation and recycling initiatives.
“One thing that I also focus on a lot, and they focus on this as well with carbon sequestration and for the health of the soil, is cover cropping,” said Terrell.
Terrell explained how cover cropping with plants like barley can help build organic matter in the soil, as well as how others can fix nitrogen levels based on how each section of the vineyard is doing.
Terrell also shows off the vineyard’s dual drip lines, which are set up so that during times when more water is needed — such as after replanting a specific section of the vineyard — they don’t need to irrigate any more than absolutely necessary.
And while this is all great, these actions require money and time.
“I think the biggest barrier for most vineyard managers is that it’s a lot of paperwork, and you have a lot of stuff to do,” said Terrell. “And obviously Napa Green and Napa County Resource Conservation District and those organizations are helping you with all of this, but in trying to check out that barrier of entry, it’s a lot to do.”
At Dominus Estate, also one of the first portfolios to get certified with the new Napa Green Vineyard program, director of viticulture and winemaking Tod Mostero has been spearheading the effort to transition to the new certification standards.
“As a vintner, the biggest difference in terms of day-to-day tasks in transitioning to Napa Green Vineyard has been a deep, permanent shift in perspective,” he said. “With our current approach to sustainability, we question every practice and have developed a new relationship with our work, our environment, and our employees … We ask ourselves how each action is improving our relationship to water, waste, social equity, energy, pesticide reduction, soil health and climate resilience.”
As a dry-farmed vineyard, monitoring the quality and health of the soil is tremendously important for Dominus to ensure they keep producing top-tier grapes without sacrificing precious resources, so Mostero has found it helpful to be more thoughtful about their communication among staff.
For example, Mostero says at their daily morning meetings, the team reviews how much water they used the previous day, discuss what activities they engaged in and discuss how they could modify them to conserve more water.
“During our yearly reviews, we talk about how to improve relationships within the team, job satisfaction and the specific areas of interest of each member of the team, [and] on a daily basis, we check in to see how our colleagues are coping with COVID and financial stresses … All of this builds a sense of stability, strength and foundational sustainability.”
Mostero also says the Carbon Farm Plan portion of the new vineyard certification has required the most work for Dominus to transition, but that Napa Green and Napa County RCD have walked them through the process of maximizing sequestered carbon.
“Because of the complexity around this subject, and the considerable impacts we can make by farming regeneratively, it will certainly require the most focus and ongoing effort,” he said.
Over at Opus One, the fact that vineyard crews have been experimenting with biochar — which is a hot topic in the world of carbon sequestration — since 2015 was a great help in adjusting to these standards. Opus had their first successful biochar-producing burn in 2018, and in 2020, used an air burner unit which left them with an essentially smoke-free burn.
“It was a very smooth transition to becoming certified as a Napa Green Vineyard,” said Angela Muscarella, Opus’s production manager. “Once we defined the principles by understanding the ‘why,’ we immediately implemented practices that reflected the principles.”
“As a result, these practices became ingrained in our day-to-day tasks, and we were able to educate Opus One as a whole.”
For Clif Family Winery, president Linzi Gay says no major changes were necessary on their end, but that the new certification is definitely “more rigorous” and is optimized for accountability.
“The work is never done, and we can always be improving, both in our individual organizations and collectively as a wine community,” said Gay. “It is important for us to keep track of our progress and achievements, and to have accountability to these best practices if we want to see real impact.”
By Sam Jones
Napa Valley wine industry reporter
You can reach Sam Jones at 707-256-2221 and sjones@napanews.com.
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 at https://napagreen.org/participating-members/.
Anna Brittain
Napa Green
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Congratulations @bellaunionwine on achieving @napagreen Winery recertification!
Powered by @mcecleanenergy Deep Green 100% Renewable Energy, Bella Union believes in minimizing their environmental impact, maximizing care for their ecosystems, and making a difference in the lives of their employees and community.
Explore their beautiful tasting room, featuring an artist-in-residence program, and discover the passion and quality in every glass.
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Congratulations to these @napagreen Certified Members for winning the @greatwinecapitals Napa Valley Regional Best of Wine Tourism Awards!
🌟@sterlingvineyards for Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences
🌟 @chandonusa for Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices
🌟 @cliffamily for Culinary Experiences
Thank you for your commitment to excellence and sustainability!
#visitnapa #visitnapavalley #winetasting #ecotourism #climatesmartwine #sustainablewine #sustainablewines #winecountry
JOIN US for an inspiring two-day deep dive into regenerative viticulture, designed to equip growers with practical strategies for building soil health, enhancing agroecosystem resilience, and producing exceptional quality grapes.
November 18, 2025 @opusonewinery
November 19, 2025 @bedrockwines
This event is for anyone interested in growing their leadership.
🎟️ Ticket link in bio.
#regenerativefarming #regenerativeag #winebusiness #vineyard #climateaction #climatesmart #soilhealth #regenerativeviticulture
Congratulations @ilsleyvineyards on achieving @napagreen Vineyard Certification!
With four generations farming over six decades and over 100 years of history in the Napa Valley, the Ilsley family is committed to elevating their vineyard and farming practices. The Napa Green Vineyard Certification aligns with this whole property approach to farming, 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.
Thank you for being regenerative farming leaders!
#regenerativeag #regenerativefarming #wineindustry #sustainablewine #climatesmart #napavalleywine #napavalley #landstewardship #winebusiness
@frankfamilyvineyards is not only both @napagreen Vineyard and Winery Certified, they have also partnered with @4ocean to support ocean and coastline cleanups!
Check out this outstanding winery to learn more about their leading sustainability practices and this amazing initiative! 🌊
#climateaction #winebusiness #winetasting #napavalley #napavalleywine #coastalcleanup #oceancleanup #visitnapavalley #climatesmartwine #regenerativeag
Congratulations to one of our founding members, @stsupery on achieving both @napagreen Vineyard and Winery recertification!
St Supery’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and continuing improvement is evident throughout their business. When visiting the tasting room, guests are greeted by cheerful Bluebirds that live in the strategically placed bird boxes to act as natural pest control. From there, you pass by the culinary gardens that are incorporated into the farm-to-table pairings, to the stunning tasting room where you can see the solar energy generated to power the property in real-time, and learn about all of the incredible sustainability initiatives from soil to bottle.
Thank you St Supery for your commitment to the community, land stewardship, and sustainable leadership!
#sustainablewine #climatesmart #winetasting #napavalleywine #napavalley #regenerativeag #landstewardship #winebusiness
In celebration of their 40th anniversary vintage, the Novak family of @spottswoodewinery has donated a complete 40-vintage vertical collection of their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1982-2021), plus an invitation to their exclusive annual vertical tasting, which is available through @christieswine to support the nonprofit, @napagreen, a leader in sustainability and climate action in the wine industry.
@mkshepp of Spottswoode shares, “As we celebrate 40 years of organic farming and work to change paradigms and build resilience through regenerative systems, we see Napa Green as a vital partner in expanding that mission across the wine industry. This auction isn’t just about Spottswoode’s history; it’s an investment in the future of winegrowing that prioritizes the health of our natural environment, our workers, and our community.”
#winetasting #winelover #winecollector #winecollection #finewine #fineandrarewines
LAST CHANCE to bid on this @christieswine Fine and Rare Wines lot, featuring a 19-magnum vertical of @opusonewinery vintages 2001-2019 hand-selected and signed from the private collection of @opus_one_winemaker, Michael Silacci, as well as an Opus One Harvest Experience for four.
#winetasting #winelover #winecollector #winecollection #finewine #fineandrarewines
Michael Silacci, @opus_one_winemaker, has hand-selected an extraordinary vertical of @opusonewinery magnums from his private collection, which are available through @christieswine to support the nonprofit @napagreen, a leader in sustainability and climate action in the wine industry.
“Napa Green plays a vital, fundamental role in grape growing within and beyond the vineyard boundaries in Napa Valley,” said Michael Silacci. “The team, comprised of experts in all essential elements of farming and stewardship, provides education, guidance, and holds us accountable. Year after year they continue to evolve and challenge us to be better citizens. I want to do all I can to help Napa Green rise. Napa Green not only strengthens our community but also inspires a deeper sense of purpose – within ourselves, and in how we care for the land we love so dearly.”
#winetasting #winelover #winecollector #winecollection #finewine #fineandrarewines
Steal this itinerary! 🍷
Join Sommelier and Vintner, Meghan Vergara as she visits three @napagreen certified wineries, @chimneyrockwinery, @bcellars and @boeschenvineyards in this captivating Terroir of Place and People Itinerary.
“Sustainability is a beautiful way of life and business. These whole systems, regenerative practices are as essential and unique as the terroir we pride ourselves on here in Napa Valley… it’s truly inspiring to travel to different wineries and taste the fruits of their labor, to see all the hard work and distinct passion in what these wineries & vineyards do.” - @mvino1
#sustainablewine #wineindustry #winetasting #winecountry #winelover #ecotravel #foodandwine #visitnapa #visitnapavalley #sommelier
The @napagreen Winery program launched in 2008, prompting Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, who spoke at the launch event hosted by @napavintners, to observe, “I’ve been at this for 30 years and this is the best, most well-thought-out program I’ve ever seen.”
#sustainabilty #environmentalleadership #environmentalstewardship #climateaction #climatesmart
Announcing two unprecedented “Fine and Rare Wines” donations to @christieswine will benefit @napagreen, the region’s leading sustainability and climate action nonprofit.
This incredible auction includes:
🍇 A remarkable 40-Bottle Vertical of @spottswoodewinery Cabernet Sauvignon donated by the @spottswoode_ceo family plus an invitation to attend Spottswoode’s Annual Vertical Tasting
🍇 A unique 19-Magnum Vertical of @opusonewinery Vintages 2001-2019 donated and signed by @opus_one_winemaker plus an Opus One Harvest Experience for four
The auction opens September 4 and runs through September 18.
We are so grateful to these two champion members for this incredibly generous donation.
#winetasting #winetastingexperience #winecollection #winecollector #napavalleywine #rarewine #finewines #nonprofit
This harvest, we’re celebrating 21 years of @napagreen, and the community leaders who have pioneered sustainability and climate action with us from the beginning.
The @napavintners (NVV) launched the Napa Green Winery program in 2008, and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard joined as a keynote speaker, saying, “I’ve been at this for 30 years and this is the best, most well-thought-out program I’ve ever seen.“
Let’s raise a glass to the founding members certified as Climate Smart Napa Green Wineries, continuing to lead the industry.
#wineindustry #winebusiness #environmentalstewardship #climateaction #sustainablewine #winetasting
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
