Certified Green

In our Spring 2008 newsletter, we outlined our strategy to implement green practices in our vineyard and winery operations. We are now pleased to announce that, having fulfilled a long list of rigorous requirements, Cakebread Cellars has become just the second vintner in Napa County to be designated a Napa Green Certified Winery. This means we are in complete compliance with all Napa County regulations regarding storm water and pollution protection, hazardous materials storage, energy and water conservation, and employee health and safety. In fact, the county and the Napa Valley Vintners have been so impressed with our green programs that they have asked our president, Bruce Cakebread, to speak at several workshops designed to encourage other local wineries and businesses to enter the Napa Green certification program.

Not content to rest on our laurels, we have instigated numerous new programs during the past several months to expand our recycling and conservation efforts and further educate our employees, so they can implement green practices at home if they wish. Each issue of our monthly employee newsletter focuses on a different area of environmental responsibility, including how to properly dispose of household hazardous materials, recycle electronics and conserve energy during heat waves (e.g., shut doors and windows and refrain, whenever possible, from using appliances during peak energy use hours). The winery is also upgrading equipment to make it more energy-efficient and recycling more materials than ever before, including used corks, wooden pallets, barrel hoops and packaging, grape bins, styrofoam, and the paper and silicon backing of wine labels.

Through September of this year, we have recycled 75% of all winery waste materials, with a goal of reaching 80% by the end of the year. We are also working to make our visitor facilities greener by using and recycling greener packaging materials, and by providing ‘green’
information on our visitor tours.

As you can tell, becoming certified Napa Green is not an end, but a beginning.