Each year Domaine Carneros goes through annual certification audits to ensure our sustainable efforts are always improving and benefiting the environment, our employees, and the community. Here are some of the ways sustainability is included in our daily business operations at the winery:

• In 2003, we installed the largest solar collection system of any winery in the world at the time.

• In 2023, we were among the first Napa wineries to install a solar microgrid and battery system that supplies up to 70% of the winery’s power, allows us to be self-sustaining during a power outage, and reduces our carbon footprint by generating enough electricity to power 50 average homes for a year. We often have enough energy to power the winery, charge our battery, provide electricity to our EV chargers, and send back energy to the public grid to power more homes!

• The installation of skylights, building into the natural hillside, night cooling systems to maintain cellar temperatures, and robust employee involvement in daily efforts all contribute to our energy conservation.

• We employ natural pest management in the vineyards by installing owl boxes and planting cover crops that attract beneficial insects.

• Water used in the production process is recycled and used to irrigate our Carneros estate vineyards.

• All used corks are composted or recycled.

• Through composting, recycling, and re-use, an average of 85% of the winery’s solid waste is diverted from landfills.

• In 2010, we created a packaging re-use program which allows us to annually repurpose 25% of our cases and inserts. Since the start of this program, we have re-used over 1.2 million pieces of packaging.

• We have been composting company-wide since 2013, and it is estimated we have composted approximately 450,000 pounds of food as a company. In 2025, we began trials to compost grape pomace on site.

At Domaine Carneros, sustainability isn’t just a practice, it’s a way of life. From the beginning, sustainability has been ingrained into our company culture and our employees actively make sustainable choices in the workplace, day in and day out. From reducing our single-use plastic usage with reusable water bottles and compostable plates, cups, and silverware in our break room to our annual Earth Day Clean-Up along the Napa River, we subscribe to the notion that even the smallest of efforts can have a major, collective impact.

Domaine Carneros has farmed sustainably since the late 1980s, implementing practices such as owl boxes to encourage natural pest management to taking grape pomace from every harvest and feeding it to local cattle. In 2013, we became certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, and in 2015 we were Fish Friendly Farming certified. This certification is gained through dedicated efforts by the farmer to restore fish and wildlife habitat and improve water quality. We plant cover crops to protect the soil, prevent erosion, and encourage beneficial insects in the vineyard, limit our use of chemicals to protect water quality, and revegetate with native plants to retain the natural biodiversity in our vineyards.

Domaine Carneros is Napa Green certified since 2014, one of the most rigorous sustainability certifications the wine industry offers. We are one of only 36 wineries with dual certification in both Napa Green Winery and Napa Green Vineyard for our numerous efforts in water and energy conservation and waste diversion.

In 2019, we received the California Green Medal Business Award and the Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Award for demonstrating "smart business through efficiencies, cost savings, and innovation from implementing sustainable practices." Only four vineyards or wineries are awarded the medal each year in the categories of Leader, Community, Environment, and Business.

"Domaine Carneros leads by example - integrating environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic vitality into everything they do. Their commitment to long-term thinking and collaboration is helping build a healthier, more resilient Napa Valley for generations to come. Watch this video on how sustainability becomes action, and inspiration."

- Napa Chamber of Commerce

Domaine Carneros has received numerous recognitions for our sustainability efforts. Most recently, we were named Sustainable Business of the Year by Napa Chamber of Commerce. Sustainability is a collaborative effort, and this People's Choice award belongs to our team, our industry peers, and our community.

In 2024, we were the recipient of the City of Napa Leadership Recycling Award for company education and waste reduction business culture.

Previously in 2023, we received the Napa RISE Leadership Award for outstanding waste prevention and greening of our supply chain, in recognition of our Packaging Reuse Initiative. Through this program we are able to divert over 32,000 pounds of waste from landfills annually, reusing the diverted cardboard up to five times. Domaine Carneros was recognized with the Napa RISE Leadership Award again in 2025 in the category of Energy Efficiency & Savings for advancements with our solar microgrid and innovative approach to renewable energy with a clear ROI.

Domaine Carneros is committed to diversity and inclusion. All visitors, vendors, customers, and employees will be treated equally, respectfully, and with a warm welcome of gracious hospitality, regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or ability.

- Eileen Crane, Founding Winemaker