Napa Valley's Efforts to Diversify the Wine Biz, How Neal Family Vineyards Went ROC
Monarch releases the first commercially available electric, driver-optional tractor
The holiday season is upon us. As the world watches the World Cup the sustainability news begins to slow down before ramping up again in the new year. Napa Valley Register looks at how Napa Valley Vintners and UC Davis have attempted to implement programs to change the diversity of the local wine business. Amy Bess Cook on invisible disabilities and the challenges those in the industry (especially in production) face in their careers. Vitisphere corrects a bit of greenwashing from Millésime Bio; Monarch releases the first commercially available electric, driver-optional tractors (Constellation bought the first 6); and a detailed look at how Neal Family Vineyards achieved ROC status.
Diversity & Equity
US: A new program from the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) is designed to annually award $5,000 grants to Black-owned, AAAV-member businesses to positively impact their operations, marketing, or innovation efforts. Press Release via Wine Business
AAAV will award five grants in the first quarter of 2023.
Napa Valley, California: Napa Valley Register spotlights several programs that aim to diversify the wine businesses from Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) and UC Davis.
NVV partnered with the United Negro College Fund and committed to investing $1 million in college scholarships over five years with a goal of increasing diversity in the wine industry. Scholarships are available to Black, Indigenous and other students of color who want to major in wine-related studies and need financial assistance.
The first year (2021) they only issued $19,000 worth of scholarships, out of their $200K goal – due to lack of applicants.
They have since partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley as part of their awareness drive and have committed the funds regardless of the timeline needed.
In 2012, UC Davis looked at its own data and was dissatisfied that underrepresented minorities enrolled in the college’s viticulture program made up only 5-6% of students. That year, the school launched its Broadening Horizons program that focused on building a more diverse department. Ten years later, minority students make up 25-30% of the department’s enrolled population.
They stressed the importance of promoting the program at community colleges and high schools as a way to draw minority students into the department, incoming students are years away from the legal drinking age and are often unaware of the many career opportunities the wine industry offers, including finance and marketing roles beyond production.
The author, who suffers from epilepsy, recounts her struggle to succeed at a winery, despite her manager’s support; ultimately quitting, feeling unable to explain the special consideration she received to her colleagues.
She interviews others in the industry including Joshua Pehle, enologist and cellarmaster at Justin Vineyard in Paso Robles, who also suffers from epilepsy; Nathan Carlson, general manager and winemaker of Center of Effort Winery in Arroyo Grande, who suffers from otosclerosis (hearing loss) among others.
Sustainability
France: Vitisphere puts a misleading statement by Millésime Bio trade show organizer SudVinBio in perspective.
Chairman Nicolas Richarme claimed France has the most organic acreage globally – which is false.
As of 2021 France has 90,298 ha of vines already certified plus 69,570 ha in conversion 2021 for a total of 159,868 – but Spain and Italy already have more than 100,000 ha of certified vineyards each and therefore currently rank ahead of France.
Richarme claims France’s rate of conversion is more dynamic – with a 20% increase in 2021; no details were provided on Spain and Italy’s conversion rate.
Napa Valley, California: Liz Thatch, MW interviews Mark Neal, founder and owner of Neal Family Vineyards on the process they went through to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC). Forbes
The winery, which is the first Napa-based one to achieve ROC, was already organic certified (a pre-requisite for ROC) and Demeter Biodynamic certified for a portion of their vineyards.
Neal explained that the first part of the ROC process was completing the application and obtaining all of the necessary documentation. Next they had to schedule several days of interview with the auditors, who not only interviewed employees, but also inspected the vineyards, winery, animals, and supplies. Then everything had to be reviewed, and finally the certification was achieved this November, just after the conclusion of the 2022 harvest. The total process took them 8 months and around $1000 in fees for the first year.
The main difference between organic/biodynamic is ROC’s focus on employees, animal welfare, and soil health. ROA interviewed employees on working conditions, wages, benefits, and work culture.
For the animals, they inspected the cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, and turkeys that Neal Family Vineyards uses in its operations. “They checked to make sure we provide clean water, a good food source, shade, shelter, and free-run pastures,” said Neal.
ROC has three levels of tilling that are considered to be certified: 25%, 50%, and 75%. “We are certified for 50% tilling,” explained Neal. “That means that we use cover crop in our vineyard, but plow up every other row, or 50% tilling. The reason we till is because we want to mow the nutrients from the cover crop back into the soil, and also to reduce competition for water. If we have a drought year with very little rain – like now – the cover crop takes the water from the vines.”
Bordeaux, France: Cru Bourgeois de Medoc is looking at extending to new formats such as Bag-in-box for its wines, as well as more climate resistant grape varieties that will combat the challenges the region is facing. The Drinks Business
By 2025, each chateaux will have to be certified with the sustainable winegrowing High Environmental Value (HVE), an enhancement on last year’s requirements.
Winemakers are looking at new climate-adaptable grapes. This follows the decision in January 2021 that the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations would allow grapes varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Marselan, Castets, Arinarnoa, Alvarinho and Liliorila. The naturally high acidity, resistance to mildew and later bud burst of these varieties helps offset the risk of spring frosts.
Currently using them would result in the wines being declassified, however a decision on whether to add these to the official specifications of Cru Bourgeois is being considered for the next classification in 2025.
Viticulture
Livermore, California: Monarch Tractor held a press event to announce the Founder Series MK-V: the first commercially available electric, driver-optional tractor. Press release via Wine Business and Organic Wine Uncorked
Constellation Brands has partnered with Monarch by purchasing the first six units.
Mondavi's pitch included a review of the cost farmers who use pesticides face, and how agricultural toxins affect biodiversity, including the company's icon, the (now endangered) Monarch Butterfly. Equipped with sensors, Mondavi's said that the tractor will help reduce toxic ag sprays.
Carbon Footprint
Japan: Fukuju Brewery has launched what it claims is the world’s first carbon-neutral sake named “Fukuju Junmai EcoZero”. The Drinks Business
The sake production features both a shortened brewing process and a paperless label.
Fukuju has switched to 100% renewable energy (hydroelectric power from non-fossil fuel sources). Moreover, the brewery has opted for carbon-neutral LNG gas (liquefied natural gas) from Daigas Energy Co. – a “carbon-neutral city gas” that has virtually zero CO2 emissions throughout its life cycle, from production to combustion, and CO2 emissions derived from extraction, transportation, production, and combustion are offset with carbon credits.
By reducing the rice polishing ratio from 70% to 80%, Fukuju has reduced energy consumption during the milling process and, consequently, environmental impact.
Packaging
Global: David Morrison includes some new insights in his comparison of alternative wine packaging. The Wine Gourd
LJ Crafted Wines has patented a device that’s inserted into the barrel, from which they sell all their wines directly. It takes 3-4 months to sell the wine, so it needs to be kept fresh in the opened barrel for that length of time.
Australian company ReWine uses its own versions of Flextanks to transport wine in large quantities directly from a winery to its warehouse facilities, to then subdivide into a unique barrel system for customers to have their bottles filled and refilled, dispensed under nitrogen with 30% CO2. It also uses a Nova Twist closure, because you can’t re-use a screw-cap.
He includes analysis on returning bottles to be reused, PET bottles and aluminum cans, paper bottles and Bag-in-box and light weight glass bottles.
Marketing
UK: The Drinks Business has announced the winners of their Green Awards for the year.
The Amorim Sustainability Award went to Hammer & Son (spirits) and Viña Cono Sur (wine); The Amorim Biodiversity Award went to Concha y Toro; The Amorim Special Award went to Moët Hennessy for World Living Soils Forum; The VinLog Green Packaging Award went to Château Galoupet; Renewable Energy Award went to Kobe Shushinkan Brewery; Water Management Award went to Terrazas de los Andes; Green Company of the Year went to Bonterra Organic Estates; Best Organic Initiative went to Hammer & Son; Ethical Award to Spier Wine Farm; Best Green Launch Château Galoupet; Best Logistics and Supply Chain Green Initiative went to EV Cargo in partnership with AB InBev; Green Personality of the Year was Herve Birnie-Scott, estate director, Terrazas de los Andes; Green Lifetime Achievement Award went to Cliff Roberson.