Napa Valley Vintners ‘green’ programme open

The Napa Valley Vintners association has expanded its Napa Green Certified Winery programme.

The programme encourages and verifies environmentally-friendly winery operations. It was initiated a year ago on a trial basis with five wineries, and is now open to all Napa Valley wineries.

The programme complements the Napa Valley Vintners’ Napa Green Certified Land program, which certifies green or sustainable farms based on their agricultural practices.

The process examines practices such as generation of solar power, use of wastewater, recycling cork stoppers and providing employees with filtered water in metal canteens instead of plastic water bottles.

Terry Hall of Napa Valley Vintners said the Napa Certified Green Winery grew out of need for a program specifically tailored to the wine industry.

The first wineries certified by the pilot program included Chateau Boswell, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Cakebread Cellars, Hess Collection and Trinchero Family Wines.

Written by Tim Teichgraeber