At Benziger we believe that being green doesn’t stop in the vineyard. Sure, our first steps toward improving our environmental impact were to reduce and eliminate the chemicals we put into the ground and to ask our growers to do the same. But as we became more and more devoted to caring for our land, it became apparent that we needed to expand our focus.

Being a sustainable business is about being a good neighbor, contributing to the community, taking care of our employees and steadily reducing the resources we consume to run our business. We’ve listed some of our practices and recognitions below, so that when you buy Benziger you know you aren’t just supporting green farming, you’re supporting a family devoted to sustainability on all levels. 

Benziger Sustainable Business Practices

We save water

• Benziger water recycling program with constructed wetlands –
  Seen as model program from water conservation leaders and innovators. 
  Recycles over 1 million gallons of processed waste water. 

Green Light

• Solar power exterior lights at Benziger ranch with expansion of
  alternative energy program in 2007.
• Solar energy for irrigation pumps at de Coelo, Benziger’s Bodega estate vineyard.

Purchasing Power

• Purchasing policy to acquire supplies from vendors that reduce
  environmental impact. 
• Purchases grapes from certified organically grown grapes – 166 acres.
• Bio-Diesel used in tractors at Benziger Family Winery’s 85 acre
  Sonoma Mountain Estate.

Growing Greener Grapes

• The first winery in Napa and Sonoma Counties to receive Demeter certification
  for Biodynamic farming – 175 acres – all Benziger estate vineyards.
• Created first single winery certified sustainable farming program for all growers.
• Stellar certified to process organically grown grapes based on NOP (National Organic Program) standards for USDA. 

Good Riddance

• Continuing education for all employees and suppliers regarding recycling, water conservation and energy conservation.
• Insulation program for all winery fermentation tanks to reduce energy waste.

Highlights of Certified Sustainable Farming Program

Certified Sustainable Defined
Created with the help of environmental experts and Stellar Certification Services, our
third-party certified-sustainable program is one of the most comprehensive of any single winery
in the country. The program, which emphasizes social responsibility and environmentally sound growing methods, such as biodiversity, soil revitalization and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), shows growers how to cultivate grapes with more character, flavors and aromas with the
goal of making better, genuinely distinctive wines.

• Quality assurance program for Benziger growers to produce wine grapes
  with highest expression of quality for each distinctive vineyard site by creating
  a healthy environment in and around the vineyards. 

• Grapes grown in an healthier environment produce wines with more developed
  flavors and thus taste better as the unique flavors are no longer masked by artificial
  inputs and over-use of irrigation water. 

• Growers complete the Wine Institute's Code of Sustainability Workshop. 

• Positive points system measures improvement year after year in the categories of canopy management, water conservation, soil health, vineyard floor management, pest management, social equity (good neighbors) and biodiversity.

• Growers participate in the most comprehensive education program
  coordinated by any single winery. 

• A detailed vineyard map allows the grower to identify areas for improvements
  and allows for better organization of required reporting.  

• Provide Benziger with all completed pest reports as required by State of California. 
  Audit of pest reports allows Benziger to educate growers on farming practices
  that will reduce the need for chemical inputs.

• Detailed Farm Plan for each grower that lists goals and objectives for
  farming practices that are approved by Benziger winegrowing team.

• Growers set a plan of action to improve uniqueness and sustainability. 
  Benziger works with growers to assist them towards higher goals
  and to create biodiversity.

By growing U.S. organic food consumption to 10% by
2010 we can:

Eliminate pesticides from
98 million daily U.S. servings
of drinking water.
_________________

Assure 20 million daily servings
of milk are produced without
antibiotics and genetically
modified growth hormones.
_________________

Eliminate 2.9 billion barrels
of imported oil annually.
_________________

Fight climate change by
capturing an additonal 6.5 billion
pounds of carbon in the soil.
(That's the equivalent of taking
2 million cars, each averaging
12,000 miles per year,
off the road.)

Source: Core Truths/Organic Center - 2006

Sonoma Valley
“Business of the Year”
for commitment to the community
and sustainable practices. (2007)

One of the
“Best Places to Work”
in the North Bay by
North Bay Business Journal (2006 )
and in the entire Bay Area in 2007
by the San Francisco Business Journal. 
Benziger was the only winery to
receive this honor. 

First Green Winery
Sunset Magazine, 2005

First recipient of California State Assembly 6th District  -
Sustainable Leadership Award (2007)  

Best Practices Award
Sonoma County Business
Environmental Alliance,
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors,
Along with a Certificate of Special Recognition
from US Congress
Member Lynn Woolsey (2007)

California State Parks – Superior Achievement Award
The highest civilian award presented
to Benziger for efforts in preserving
and re-building Jack London
State Park.  (2006)

Certificate of Recognition
CA State Senate for outstanding leadership with the environment

Bay Area
Green Business
Certification
(first in Sonoma County) 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Innovator – California EPA

Certificate of Recognition
from CA EPA for pioneering efforts

Certificate of Recognition
from CA State Assembly
for IPM leadership

Sonoma Ecology Center
Environmental Award

Sonoma County
Certificate of Compliance
– Green Business

Nominee
American Winery of the Year (2005)
Wine Enthusiast –
Nominated because of pioneering
efforts in Biodynamic farming. 

Nominee
Copia’s Grower of the Year (2005) Nominated because of pioneering
efforts in Biodynamic farming.