1998
Napa River listed as impaired
The EPA lists the Napa River as impaired due to excessive sediment loading.
A history of being green
Two decades of raising the standard.
Napa Green evolved from watershed stewardship into a whole-system climate-action certification program spanning regenerative vineyards, winery operations and social stewardship.
Early 2000s
Collaborative watershed initiative
Wine, agricultural, environmental and regulatory partners develop a voluntary watershed-stewardship program.
2004
Napa Green Land launches
Napa Green Land is established around erosion prevention and sustainable vineyard practices.
2008
Napa Green Winery established
Certification expands sustainability beyond the vineyard and into winery operations.
2016
Integrated Resource Assessments launch
Napa Green begins whole-facility energy, water, waste and emissions evaluations.
2017
Regulatory alignment
Napa and Sonoma vineyard Waste Discharge Requirements formalize a new compliance baseline.
2019
Independent nonprofit
Napa Green transitions into an independent nonprofit organization.
2021
New Vineyard Certification
Standards are rebuilt around regenerative farming, climate action and social equity.
2022
Climate & Wine Symposium launches
The first THRIVES, now RISE, symposium convenes the wine industry around six pillars of leadership.
2023
Global leadership
Napa Green becomes the first sustainable winegrowing certification to require a phaseout of glyphosate-based herbicides by 2026 and all synthetic herbicides by 2028.
2024
Vineyard milestone
Napa Green reaches a major regenerative-vineyard certification milestone.
2025
100% eliminate glyphosate
All 56 member growers meet the program deadline to eliminate Roundup and glyphosate-based products across 101 certified vineyard properties.
2026
Regenerating Napa funding
A $3 million Advancing Markets for Producers grant expands regenerative agriculture, including $2 million in direct incentives for local growers.
2027
RISE returns
The next RISE Climate & Wine Symposium is scheduled for April 20–22, 2027.