MONDAY, MAY 2, 2022. BY WINE INSTITUTE.
SAN FRANCISCO — The eighth annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Award winners were announced during Down to Earth Month, a celebration of California’s sustainable viticulture and winemaking. Presented by several California wine organizations devoted to sustainability, four Green Medals have been presented in the following categories: Leader, Environment, Community, and Business.
“It’s a pleasure to recognize the California wine community’s cutting-edge leaders in sustainability through the California Green Medal Awards,” said Allison Jordan, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance’s (CSWA) Executive Director. “Their stories illustrate the perfect synergy between growing exceptional winegrapes and crafting premier wines with an enduring commitment to resource conservation, environmental protection, and quality of life enrichment for their employees and community.”
Winners of the 2022 California Green Medals are:
LEADER AWARD, given to the vineyard or winery that excels in the three “Es” of sustainability — Environmentally sound, socially Equitable, and Economically viable.
WINNER: Wente Family Estates
Wente Family Estates is a multi-generational vineyard and winery deeply rooted in sustainability, with a 139-year commitment to the land and people. As a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and winery, Wente takes conserving resources and building soil health seriously — using no-tillage methods to sequester carbon and build organic matter while minimizing compaction, grazing to control grasses, and returning harvest waste to the soil as compost. Wente uses sensors to monitor vine water needs and reuses all treated winery water in the vineyard. They also have two all-electric Monarch tractors and use lightweight glass bottles to reduce their carbon footprint. Read more
ENVIRONMENT AWARD, given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Environmental Stewardship through maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices.
WINNER: Trefethen Family Vineyards
Trefethen Family Vineyards is demonstrating outstanding commitment to the environment through their comprehensive approach and multiple certifications — Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, Fish Friendly Farming, Green Business Program, and Napa Green. The winery’s water system recycled almost two million gallons of water for vineyard use in 2021. The family uses mechanical weed control practices along with an integrated approach to growing grapes and encourages biodiverse predators such as beneficial wasps, owls, bats, bluebirds, and hawks that help control insect and vertebrate pests. Read more
COMMUNITY AWARD, given to the vineyard or winery that is a Good Neighbor and Employer using the most innovative practices that enhance relations with employees, neighbors, and/or communities.
WINNER: McManis Family Vineyards
Based in Ripon, California, McManis Family Vineyards believes in a community coming together to support a shared goal. The winery cares for the broader ecosystem, establishing a conservation easement to permanently protect native habitats and wildlife in and around one of their vineyards. They also implement many practices to reduce their carbon footprint such as using electric UTVs and forklifts, solar, composting solid waste, and recycling winery water. With vineyards certified to LODI RULES and the winery certified to Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, McManis helps educate other winegrowers about the importance of sustainability and the value of certification. A true sustainability leader, McManis also won the Green Medal – Business Award in 2016. Read more
BUSINESS AWARD, given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Smart Business through efficiencies, cost savings, and innovation by implementing sustainable practices.
WINNER: Jackson Family Wines
With vineyards and wineries throughout California, including in Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma counties, Jackson Family Wines embodies what it means to be a “smart business” by connecting sustainable practices to efficiencies, cost savings, and innovation. The goals established in its Rooted for Good: Roadmap to 2030 plan, launched last year, are fully integrated with its business model. For example, decarbonization is part of the company’s capital expenditure plan, smart water management and efficiency are part of the vineyard redevelopment plan and social impact and diversity equity and inclusion initiatives are integrated into human resources and employees’ roles and responsibilities. Read more
About the California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards
The California Green Medal recognizes the leadership of wineries and vineyards committed to sustainability and is presented by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Green, Napa Valley Vintners, Sonoma County Winegrowers and Vineyard Team.
Applications were judged by a panel of wine and sustainability experts including Karen Block, PhD, UC Davis Viticulture and Enology; Stephanie Bolton, PhD, Lodi Winegrape Commission; Anna Brittain, Napa Valley Vintners; Lisa Francioni-Hai, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance; Frances Knapczyk, Napa Resource Conservation District; Cyril Penn, Wine Business Monthly; Sandra Taylor, Sustainable Business International LLC; Beth Vukmanic, Vineyard Team; and Natalie Wymer, Wine Institute.
Sponsors include:
- Exclusive Media Sponsor: Wine Business Monthly
- Platinum: Marin Clean Energy
- Gold: Clemens Technologies, Farm Credit American Ag Credit
VISIT GREENMEDAL.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION
View a video featuring the 2022 winners:
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