2023 CALIFORNIA GREEN MEDAL WINNERS!
View the video below highlighting the sustainability accomplishments of 2023 award recipients.
Given to the vineyard or winery that excels in the three “Es” of sustainability — Environmentally sound, socially Equitable and Economically viable practices.
TREASURY AMERICAS
With vineyards and wineries in California’s North and Central Coasts, and as one of the largest Napa Valley growers, Treasury Americas is a demonstrated leader in sustainability. They set ambitious targets of 100% renewable electricity by 2024 and Net Zero by 2030. The company collaborates with universities and industry experts to investigate new technologies, accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future and sharing these learnings with peers. They partner with groups such as the Napa Resource Conservation District and North Coast Soil Health Hub on soil health, biochar and compost studies and share information using their demonstration site. Committed to the restoration of the Napa River, they removed vineyards to create valuable setbacks and replanted thousands of native trees to capture carbon, support salmon spawning and enhance bird habitat. Treasury Americas is committed to building a healthy, safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace culture. They encourage employees to propose solutions to key sustainability challenges, which helps broaden employees’ networks and skills. They help support the broader community by providing two days paid volunteer time off per year and matching donations to fundraising activities. Treasury Americas’ public sustainability reports provide depth and transparency to the countless sustainability focused projects and initiatives carried out each year. We celebrate the significant sustainability achievements of Treasury Americas with the 2023 California Green Medal Leader Award.
Given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Environmental Stewardship through maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices.
TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
Situated 12 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean near Paso Robles, Tablas Creek Vineyard demonstrates an unparalleled stewardship to the environment through leading edge practices and certifications. Tablas Creek is a trailblazer of many firsts in their region, such as helping Regenerative Organic Alliance craft standards and becoming the first Regenerative Organic Certified winery in the world. Tablas Creek shares their experience with the community by hosting seminars on topics such as organic and biodynamic viticulture, dry-farming, biochar, and using animals such as owls, hawks, and sheep in the vineyard to manage pests and weeds while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and restoring nutrients to the soil naturally. Tablas Creek Vineyard maintains 90 acres of pristine oak woodland on their property. Efforts to reduce their carbon footprint include their 100% solar-powered winery where they replaced all plastic water bottles with reusable stainless-steel canteens, lightweight bottle glass is used, and water is conserved by steam-cleaning barrels. They also capture wastewater for reuse in a wetland area that provides habitat for native species. For over 30 years, Tablas Creek Vineyard has shared their sustainability initiatives with the community and participated in numerous collaborations with the academic and viticultural institutions in the area. Tablas Creek Vineyard is the recipient of the 2023 California Green Medal Environment Award for their proven commitment to environmental stewardship.
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.
CAKEBREAD CELLARS
Cakebread Cellars is a family-owned winery located in Napa Valley’s Rutherford AVA, committed to being stewards of the land and the community since 1973. In addition to their commitment to environmental leadership as a silver member of the IWCA (International Wineries for Climate Action), Cakebread Cellars cultivates a dynamic workplace culture with talented employees by focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through ongoing DEI workshops and floating holidays that enable staff to select their preferred cultural and religious observations. Cakebread Cellars conducted a companywide survey to solicit feedback on DEI initiatives and created an employee-led DEI Council with four sub-committees that address individual areas of continuous improvement. They worked with DEI consultants to expand hiring practices, create a monthly calendar of DEI-inspired events, and start a harvest internship program that provides scholarships for BIPOC harvest interns. They continue to evolve their definition of community and ways to support it by contributing to over 80 organizations, including national organizations such as World Central Kitchen or holiday drives with Boys and Girls Club, and contributing to local non-profits focused on enhancing the livability of Napa Valley. They empower their employees to give back with two paid days off per year to volunteer with their preferred non-profits. For their exemplary community leadership, Cakebread Cellars is the recipient of the 2023 California Green Medal Community Award.
Given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Smart Business through efficiencies, cost savings and innovation from implementing sustainable practices.
NINER WINE ESTATES
Niner Wine Estates, located on California’s Central Coast, is a family-owned winery specializing in 100% estate grown wines. Since their inception, they have taken a long-term and market-leading approach to caring for employees and the broader community while limiting their environmental impact. As a SIP Certified vineyard and winery, Niner Wine Estates is committed to continuously improving their sustainability. All buildings are LEED Silver Certified, saving energy and reducing cost. In the last five years, Niner Wine Estates has made major investments to reduce their environmental footprint. These investments include installing a solar system that produces 560,000 Kilowatt hours annually and a second water collection system increasing rainwater capture for irrigation. Two years ago, they created a position to collect, analyze and report data on resource use to help managers make the most sustainably minded decisions. Niner creates a welcoming culture for their employees, offering a robust benefits package and in 2020 paid part-time employees during pandemic closures as if they were salaried employees. They also make annual donations of $2,000 per employee to the charity of their choice. The company’s principles are demonstrating how these sustainable business decisions lead to higher quality wines, happier employees and a thriving business. Demonstrating the importance of sustainability in passing on a vibrant business to future generations, Niner Wine Estates is the recipient of the 2023 California Green Medal Business Award!
2023 SPONSORS
EXCLUSIVE MEDIA SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
JUDGING PANEL FOR 2023 AWARDS
- Allison Jordan, Executive Director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
- Anna Brittain, Executive Director, Napa Green
- Beth Vukmanic, Executive Director, Vineyard Team
- Cyril Penn, Editor in Chief, Wine Business Monthly
- Evan Goldstein, MS, President, Full Circle Wine Solutions and Master the World
- Jennifer Richards, VP of Operations and Business Development, Sonoma County Winegrowers
- Karen Block, PhD, Director of Industry Relations, UC Davis Viticulture and Enology
- Natalie Wymer, VP of Communications and Member Relations, Wine Institute
- Stephanie Bolton, PhD, Research and Education Director, Lodi Winegrape Commission