Three Sonoma, Napa wineries win California Green Medal awards

Three North Coast wine companies - Francis Ford Coppola Winery and St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Sonoma County, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery in Napa Valley - and Monterey Pacific Inc. from the Central Coast - have received a California Green Medal this year in the third annual Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards.

Winning the leader category this year, Francis Ford Coppola Winery in the Geyserville community of Alexander Valley was touted by judges as excelling in “all areas” of the “3 E’s” of sustainability: environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically viable.

Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery based in St. Helena won for “best demonstrating environmental stewardship through maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices.”

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards south of Santa Rosa was recognized in the community category, which looks at being a good neighbor and employer by innovatively enhancing relations with employees, neighbors and communities.The winery “operates under the belief that good neighbors help each other and that employees are part of the success of sustainability,” the awards group said.

Winning the business category award is Monterey Pacific. This category honors companies for “best demonstrating smart business through efficiencies, cost savings and innovation from implementing sustainable practices.”

Monterey Pacific combines the “most efficient parts of organic, Biodynamic and sustainable farming and creates a successful, economically and environmentally sound management style designed for growing grapes.”