APPLICATIONS OPEN THROUGH FEBRUARY 5, 2027
California wineries and vineyards are encouraged to apply for the California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards. Learn more about eligibility, the selection process, judging panel, application process and access the application on this page.
ELIGIBILITY
- All applicants must be a California vineyard and/or winery.
- All applicants must have participated in a California sustainability program within the past 12 months (e.g., California Green Business Program, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, Demeter Biodynamic®, Fish Friendly Farming, LODI RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing, Napa Green, Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), SIP Certified®).
- Previous winners of the Environment, Community or Business award (2015-2026) must wait five years to reapply, and previous winners of the Leader award must wait 15 years to reapply.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The California Green Medal Leader Award is given annually to three vineyards and/or wineries that best exhibit qualities of integrity, responsibility, transparency, dedication, innovation, and generosity, while balancing the 3 Es of sustainability:
- Environmentally Sound: Demonstrates maximized environmental benefits from implementing specific practices, projects, or initiatives
- Socially Equitable: Innovative practices or program that enhance relations with employees, neighbors and/or communities
- Economically Feasible: Demonstrates efficiencies and cost savings from implementing specific practices, projects, or initiatives
Please note, from 2015-2026, awards were given in four categories: Leader, Environment, Business and Community. Starting in 2027, all winners will receive Leader awards.
APPLICATION TIPS BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Here are tips for producing a comprehensive and competitive application:
- Download the Word version of the application and complete it offline.
- Focus on practices, projects or initiatives that have taken place in the past five years, with a particular emphasis on the past year.
- Include specific examples along with supporting metrics whenever possible.
- Collaborate with others when completing the application. For example, have your viticulturist complete or review responses on farming practices, and a communications colleague address questions pertaining to community relations and stakeholder communications. This way, your application is more likely to be comprehensive and encompass more areas of your sustainability efforts.
- Applicants with multiple facilities are encouraged to provide a company-wide perspective in application responses.
- Gather supporting documentation and upload to a linkable location (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive). Examples of supporting documentation include: company literature, publications and/or marketing materials, photographs highlighting practices, media clippings/coverage/testimonials, sustainability reports, mission or value statement, previous awards/acknowledgements, staff CVs or biographies or letters of recommendation or endorsement. Please note: a maximum of three relevant support documents will be accepted. Proof of participation in a sustainable winegrowing program is required and does not count as one of your three allowed documents.
- Transcribe the final answers into the online application.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The judging panel will consider the following criteria when scoring applications:
- Practices, project(s) and/or initiative(s) that demonstrate outstanding achievement in the 3 Es of sustainability
- Major accomplishments and measurable results
- Practices, project(s) and/or initiative(s) that are innovative and/or unique
- Clearly articulates why they are deserving of the award and what sets them apart from others
- Certified to a third-party sustainable winegrowing certification program receives bonus points
- Provides compelling supporting documentation (see full list of examples on the application)
- Promotes public awareness of the merits of using sustainability practices through far-reaching platforms
JUDGING PANEL FOR 2027 AWARDS
- Allison Moore, director of member relations, Wine Institute
- Beth Vukmanic, executive director, Vineyard Team
- Casey Hogue, founder/executive director, Serotonin Creative Consultancy
- Cyril Penn, editor-in-chief, Wine Business Monthly
- Evan Goldstein, master sommelier
- Jennifer Dieckmann, chief operations officer, Sonoma County Winegrowers
- Jodi Wilson, certification director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
- Karen Block, director of industry relations, UC Davis Dept. of Viticulture and Enology
- Marisa Taylor, winery program manager, Napa Green
- Natalie Collins, president, California Association of Winegrape Growers
- Stephanie Bolton, PhD, research and education director, Lodi Winegrape Commission
Application questions? Email info@greenmedal.org