In 1968, Napa Valley became the first federally recognized Agricultural Preserve in the United States, designed to protect the valley’s unique ecosystem for its highest and best use: farming. Over the years, this has protected Napa Valley farmland from encroaching urban growth and has preserved open space.
“Given Napa Valley’s role as the most well-known wine region in the United States… Napa Valley has both a unique opportunity and a deeply important duty to model the kinds of behaviors and to implement the kinds of climate change-mitigating actions that will only continue to grow in importance in the coming years and decades,” wrote author Brian Freedman in NAPA magazine, produced by Napa Valley Vintners.
Napa Green has also been at the forefront of climate mitigation work, creating a comprehensive, systematic soil-to-bottle certification for Napa County growers and vintners. Napa Green offers certifications for both vineyards and wineries, evaluating factors from social equity, justice, and inclusion to carbon farming and regenerative practices. The organization is working to extend this certification to tourism and is in the process of creating a pilot program for Napa Valley lodging properties in an effort to encourage hotels to minimize their carbon footprint.
Tres Sabores Winery holds Napa Green Certification
Finally, the vintners and winemakers themselves have long embraced sustainable practices. For example, Tres Sabores, the regional Winner of the Best of Wine Tourism Award in Sustainable Wine Practices, is the oldest certified organic vineyard in the region. Its founder and winemaker Julie Johnson is passionate about her stewardship of the land. Her estate vineyard is largely dry-farmed and minimally tilled, and she relies on her flocks of sheep and guinea fowl to cut back foliage and naturally fertilize the soil.
“Everyone – from the people who are responsible for the great wines of Napa Valley to their legions of fans around the world – are benefiting from these efforts,” remarked Freeman.
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Photo credit: Bob McClenahan
Tres Sabores Winery