NAPA GREEN CERTIFIED

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” The most successful companies happen to be positive forces in their community that recognize their environmental and social responsibilities.

The owners and staff at Handwritten Wines, an award-winning boutique winery, fully embrace their responsibility to go beyond producing excellent handcrafted wines for their clientele. As an actively responsible company committed to the welfare of the community, the entire Handwritten Wines group is determined to be responsible stewards in their community, always striving to protect the environment at every stage from the management of the vineyards and throughout their winery.

In June 2019, Handwritten Wines and its sister boutique winery, Jessup Cellars, were certified as Napa Green organizations. The certifying groups leading Napa Valley businesses to adopt environmentally sound practices are Napa Green, Napa Valley Vintners, and Sustainable Napa County.

During an Awards Dinner, where recognition for Handwritten’s sustainability efforts was being recognized, the Napa Green leaders highlighted their broader initiative, the Greening of Napa Valley, and their extensive efforts to enhance the sustainability of the vineyards and wineries of the region.

Napa Green is only one of only four sustainable winegrowing programs in the nation that has established a comprehensive “soil-to-bottle” sustainability program. While progress continues everywhere, Napa Valley is already home to 40% of the designated-sustainable wineries of the 4,200 wineries throughout California.

What is Napa Green’s Focus?

Napa Green has developed specific sustainability and stewardship standards and measures to monitor the progress of participating wineries. From soil to bottle, these standards involve:

• Saving energy and water and increasing energy efficiency
• Preventing waste through recycling, composting, and environmentally focused purchasing
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and each winery’s carbon footprint
• Committing to social equity
• Certification of the entire facility, from production to hospitality

Handwritten Wines has incorporated a Green Team that has established recycling, composting, and energy conservation programs in each production phase of their handcrafted wines. The group sets realistic and tangible sustainability initiatives, then measures the progress at each level. Such projects as insulating all cellar tanks and glycol lines, installing LED Lighting, incorporating recycled paper for marketing and other correspondence, and more have helped this boutique winery ensure the long-term viability of their business and earn recognition for their commitment to reducing the boutique winery’s carbon footprint.