California: The gold standard for sustainability

The Golden State has long been a leader in green winemaking. Its pioneering sustainability programs and initiatives are among the most admired in the world and provide a road map for other wine regions. Learn about five of these programs here, meet some planet-friendly producers and try some of the stunning wines from among the cadre we’ve collected that embody the Californian spirit of sustainability.

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Planet-friendly principles

What do terms like sustainable, organic and biodynamic mean? Here’s a quick breakdown:

Sustainable winemaking is about meeting today’s needs without compromising the economic, environmental and social needs of tomorrow. Examples include wastewater recycling programs and solar-powered wineries.

Organic winemaking avoids conventional pesticides and other synthetic chemicals in the vineyard and winery. Examples include rotating crops to reduce pest pressure and weeding by hand.

Biodynamic winemaking considers the vineyard as an ecosystem and uses natural approaches to preserve its holistic health. Examples include using herbal preparations for vine health and wildlife for pest control.

Five sustainability programs

Learn about some of the initiatives that measure and monitor sustainability efforts in California’s wine industry:

Certified California Sustainable

This program certifies that a winery or vineyard has adopted and implemented stringent sustainable wine-growing standards for water, energy, greenhouse gases and nitrogen. Vineyards must also meet restrictions on crop-protection materials. Certified wineries must source at least 85% of their grapes from certified vineyards. An annual third-party audit is required to earn and maintain certification status.

Napa Green

Specific to Napa County, Napa Green certifies vineyards and wineries for sustainable initiatives. Vineyards are measured on regenerative agriculture and soil health, irrigation assessments and water use, forest management and fire resilience, restricted pesticides, nitrogen management, and social justice and inclusion for farmworkers. Wineries are measured on energy and water efficiency, composting and waste management, carbon footprint, and social equity.

Lodi Rules

America’s original sustainable wine-growing program began in Lodi, which is a farming community just south of Sacramento. The program focuses on preserving historic vineyards, responsible farming, and stewardship to benefit future generations while keeping economic feasibility in mind for long-term success. The program certifies wineries throughout California and Washington State. Certified products carry seals saying Lodi Rules, California Rules or Certified Green.

Sustainability in Practice

Sustainability in Practice, or SIP, certifies vineyards and wineries for protecting natural and human resources. The three metrics are people, which measures community involvement and employee development and support programs; planet, which measures alternative energy use, recycling, habitat conservation, integrated pest management and responsible irrigation; and prosperity, which measures business success.

Regenerative Organic

This program emphasizes environmentally conscious and socially responsible agricultural practices for farms, including vineyards. The goal is to create a sustainable and ethical food system by promoting regenerative (naturally self-sustaining) practices that restore and enhance ecosystems, with metrics for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.