Napa Green is the wine industry’s most comprehensive “best practices” in land-use and wine production. This voluntary program developed by the Napa Valley Vintners is open to all Napa County vintners and grape growers and focuses on building environmentally sound, sustainable practices that meet and exceed more than twenty local, state and federal land or production “best practices” and is certified by an independent third party. Napa County vintners participate in programs focused on winery operations and/or farming practices tailored specifically to each property to meet and exceed environmental compliance and continue to protect and enhance the ecological quality of the region. Under the Napa Green certification programs, vintners can enroll in the Winery or Land programs.
Napa Green Certified Land
Napa Green Certified Land program
is a third party certified, voluntary program for Napa County vintners
and grape growers that seeks to restore, protect and enhance the
regional watershed. The program includes not only farmed or vineyard
land, but also non-farmed and wild land, roadways, steam banks,
drainage and more within a specific property. Plan details are
unique to each owner’s property and include restoration of wildlife
habitat, healthy riparian environments and more with sustainable
agriculture practices. Approximately 33,150 acres are currently
enrolled in the program and more than 16,900 acres are certified,
with thousands more about to receive official certification. A
majority (90%) of the Napa River watershed is in private ownership
making this public/private partnership, Napa Green, vital to our
community. The certification is in partnership with Fish Friendly
Farming, National Marine Fisheries Service, the Napa County Department
of Agriculture’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Regional
Water Quality Control Board among others.
Napa Green Certified Winery
Founded
in 2007, Napa Green Certified Winery was developed by the Napa
Valley Vintners in coordination with the Napa County Department
of Environmental Management (DEM) and is based on the Association
of Bay Area Government’s (ABAG) Green Business Program as a model
due to its consistent, credible and recognized program with a long
track record.
ABAG’s winery-specific checklist was updated and adopted as the
certification method for Napa Green Certified Winery because it
puts all the regulatory pieces into a comprehensive format that
goes beyond compliance. The checklist includes water conservation,
energy conservation, pollution prevention, and solid waste reduction
elements. Enrollment is offered to a defined number of wineries
so that they receive the attention and assistance they need, and
so that the DEM can manage inspections and certifications. The
ABAG program is set to become the standard for the state. Once
the program is complete, the winery is certified by the DEM and
ABAG providing independent third party certification. |
