Page 15 - Terroir_2014

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NAPA GREEN
In the early 2000s, the Napa Valley Vintners, along with more than 20
other local industry and environmental groups, developed Napa Green,
a rigorous voluntary programwith independent third-party certification
that focuses on environmentally sound and sustainable practices. Starting
as a land-use-only certification, the program added a winery component
in 2008. To date, there are 61,000 acres of land enrolled in Napa Green
and more than 25,000 acres of vineyards are certified.
Overseen by the Department of Public Works, the tailor-made Napa
Green Winery program evaluates each winery and how to best sustain
natural features. The program partners with various groups to conduct
energy assessments andwork to reduce solidwaste, prevent pollution, and
conserve water as well as energy. And while many Napa Valley farmers
will tell you they were “green” before Napa Green, they are grateful to
have a sounding board and verifying agent to keep themselves in check.
GOOD STEWARDS WITH A HEALTHY FRAMEWORK
Michael Honig, owner of Honig Vineyard and Winery, enrolled his
vineyards in the Napa Green Land program. “I have become the
caretaker for my generation, and so my motivation is to keep this legacy
of my grandfather’s in the family.” He sees the value of the program not
only in saving the land and creating a healthy environment but also in
emulating that message around the world. “Green farming offers a daily
benefit to consumers. Take two tomatoes: one grown by the farmer
down the road, the other from Argentina that was picked a week ago and
gassed to turn it red. The one grown with a little more love and care and
nurturing will have a better flavor profile.”
Jon Priest, winemaker at Etude Wines, agrees. Etude’s vineyards have
long been a model for sustainable viticulture, protecting the wetlands,
restoring the creeks, and encouraging the native flora and wildlife to
thrive. “Sure, it makes us feel good about ourselves, but that’s because it’s
really who we are. It’s our ethos. And the fact that there is a certification
to help define and recognize that is great.” With the Napa Green Land
and Winery programs as a validation of what Etude believes in, Priest
takes comfort in knowing it gives his customers the confidence to also
feel good about themselves for enjoying wine made in a responsible way.
“We know we are growing grapes in a manner that isn’t taking anything
away from the environment or our ecosystem, and now they do too.”
Honig admits that it’s not always easy for a society as far removed from
agriculture as ours to visualize what he can firsthand in the fields each
day. “Whether consumers see that benefit directly or not, through third-
party endorsements we know they think our wines are better because of
our practices. A lot of the things we do under the Napa Green program
ultimately allow our wines to be better, because we’ve grown better
grapes.”
“If you look at the history of agriculture, a true steward of the land takes
care of it for the next generation,” explains Priest. “We want to be a
model of sustainability and by taking the elements of programs like this,
we have a framework to show how we do it.”