Month: November 2017

November 15, 2017

United Nations Honors Fetzer Vineyards with “Momentum for Change” Climate Solutions Award at COP23, the UN Climate Change Conference

California Vintner Recognized for Commitments to Carbon Neutrality and a Net Positive Future

HOPLAND, CA November 15, 2017 – Fetzer Vineyards was among 19 global enterprises and the only wine company to receive a “Momentum for Change” Climate Solutions Award for climate action at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany (COP23) this week. Fetzer Vineyards’ Momentum for Change honor is the third environmental award the vintner has won this year, signaling Fetzer Vineyards’ ongoing commitment to prioritizing sustainability as it approaches its 50th year of Earth-friendly winegrowing in 2018. Recognized by the UN for “Net Positive Wine” – a comprehensive approach to responsible business and carbon neutrality – Fetzer Vineyards will share more on its sustainability strategies, regenerative practices and plans for a Net Positive future at today’s Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now Climate Action Dialogue Series at COP23.

UN Momentum for Change winners, called Lighthouse Activities, illustrate the innovative and scalable ways global climate action is accelerating two years after the landmark Paris Climate Conference (COP21). “Lighthouse Activities ensure multiple approaches to deliver on climate protection, environmental consciousness, sustainability and social responsibility, designed by companies, organizations and governments big and small alike,” said Teresa Ribera, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) and Chair of the Momentum for Change Advisory Panel. “With over 460 applications this year, we are reminded of the global prevalence of climate action,

especially in terms of quality solutions.” The 2017 Lighthouse Activities were selected by an international advisory panel as part of the UN Climate Change secretariat’s Momentum for Change initiative, which is implemented with the support of The Rockefeller Foundation and in partnership with other groups including the World Economic Forum.

Championing Climate and California Businesses in Bonn

Fetzer Vineyards’ Chief Operating Officer, Cindy DeVries, will deliver today’s address on Net Positive Wine at COP23’s Momentum for Change Climate Action Dialogue Series. Earlier this week at COP23, DeVries joined California Governor Jerry Brown on a panel hosted at the U.S. Climate Action Center in

Bonn called “The Business Case for Advancing Strong Climate Leadership and Policy in California.”

Alongside the Governor and fellow executives, DeVries championed the role of California businesses in advancing climate policy and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Later today, DeVries will once again speak at the U.S. Climate Action Center, joining executives from Patagonia and Mars, Inc. in a panel discussion titled “From ‘Still In’ to a National Policy Transformation,” underscoring Fetzer Vineyards’ support of the private sector’s push for policy changes that lead to reducing GHG emissions, increasing resilience, and creating jobs that will grow the economy.

“At Fetzer Vineyards, our business thrives while placing sustainable, climate-smart practices at the fore of our operations,” said DeVries of the vintner’s commitment to supporting climate policy at the state and national levels, and now at COP23. “We know that a low-carbon approach and growth aren’t mutually exclusive, and in fact have seen our successes accelerate as we’ve become even more committed to regenerative practices that revitalize and regenerate ecosystems and communities, advance the health and well-being of employees, and produce sustainable growth for our shareholders.”

A Trio of Environmental Honors for Fetzer Vineyards

The UN’s Momentum for Change award caps an exciting year for Fetzer Vineyards, one in which the vintner was honored with three environmental-focused awards:

  • Golden State Warrior Award (BICEP): Ceres’ Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) recognized Fetzer Vineyards for its leadership in supporting climate-smart policy initiatives.
  • Project of the Year (Environmental Leader): Fetzer Vineyards was recognized for its adoption of the BioFiltro BIDA® System, which uses worms and microbes to treat winery wastewater naturally.
  • Momentum for Change (UN): Net Positive Wine is among 19 honorees at COP23. The recognition comes two years after Fetzer Vineyards presented on climate-smart winegrowing at COP21.

Also in 2017 and on the eve of its 50th anniversary, Fetzer Vineyards released Road to Regeneration, the winery’s first sustainability report. The 26-page report highlights the company’s key progress towards its 2020 sustainability goals, its sustainability strategies, and highlights from 2016.

About Fetzer Vineyards

Founded in 1968 by Barney Fetzer in Mendocino County, California, Fetzer Vineyards is an award-winning purveyor of wines from sustainable, organic and biodynamic grapes. In addition to robust offerings under the winery’s flagship Fetzer label, the winery also crafts the leading wine from organic grapes, Bonterra Organic Vineyards, named the 2016 American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Other California-based offerings include Adorada, Anthony’s Hill, Jekel Vineyards, Sanctuary Wines and 1000 Stories, a Bourbon barrel-aged Zinfandel recognized as a 2017 IMPACT Hot Prospect brand. Part of global winery Viña Concha y Toro, Fetzer Vineyards exports its diverse wines to more than 30 countries worldwide. Most recently, the winery entered the ultra-luxury wine and spirits category by forging a partnership with Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. to sell its historic craft rye whiskey. fetzer.com

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Media Contact:

Courtney Cochran | Fetzer Vineyards | 707.670.0268 | courtney.cochran@fetzer.com

Nov. 8, 2017

Fetzer Vineyards Releases First Sustainability Report, Road to Regeneration, Ahead of 50th Anniversary in 2018

Leader in Sustainable Winegrowing Shares Regenerative Practices, 2020 Sustainability Goals and Plans for a Net Positive Future

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Nov. 8, 2017 – Today Fetzer Vineyards, a pioneer in sustainable winegrowing, announces the release of Road to Regeneration: Corporate Consciousness Report, highlighting key milestones achieved through 2016 and plans for a Net Positive future. The release of Fetzer Vineyards’ first-ever sustainability report marks an important step in the company’s sustainability journey, particularly as the historic California vintner approaches its 50th year of Earth-friendly winegrowing in 2018. The release of Road to Regeneration also comes just days before the commencement of COP23, the 2017 United Nations’ Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, where Fetzer Vineyards will

receive a Momentum for Change award from the UN for its leadership in modeling sustainable practices for the wine industry. The recognition comes two years after Fetzer Vineyards presented on climate- smart winegrowing at COP21, the Paris Climate Talks, the only U.S. winery to do so.

Taking a Stand Since 1968

With an eye today to a Net Positive future, Fetzer Vineyards has been integrating pacesetting sustainability initiatives into its business for decades. Key milestones include a conversion to 100% organic farming in its Mendocino County, California vineyards in the 1980s; becoming the first U.S. vintner to operate on 100% green power, in 1999; reporting and verifying greenhouse gas emissions to The Climate Registry as early as 2005, the first U.S. winery to do so; becoming the first winery to achieve TRUE Zero Waste certification, in 2014; and becoming the world’s largest winery to obtain B Corporation certification, in 2015. Fetzer Vineyards understands that transforming the future requires not just small, incremental steps toward sustainability, but rather an ambitious framework – like regenerative

development, highlighted in the report – applied to every part of its business.

Inside Road to Regeneration

Though Fetzer Vineyards’ sustainability journey has been underway for many years, Road to Regeneration marks a key milestone as the winery looks to share its practices with a broader audience in hopes of inspiring others to pursue a regenerative approach. In the report, Fetzer Vineyards shares more on key progress towards its 2020 sustainability goals, its sustainability strategies, and highlights from 2016, including the following:

  • Waste: Fetzer Vineyards diverted 99.2% of all waste from landfills or incineration in 2016, continuing a trajectory of improvement; the winery diverted 99.1% of waste from landfills or incineration in 2015, 98.5% in 2014, and 97.6% in 2013.
  • Water: The vintner reduced water intensity per gallon of wine produced by 12% over 2015. For 2016, Fetzer Vineyards’ winery water intensity was 3.24 gallons of water used/gallon wine produced (compare to: 3.65 gallons in 2015).
  • GHG Emissions: Complementing a commitment to renewable energy, Fetzer Vineyards reduced Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 7.3% over 2015 through a variety of mechanisms and became the first

U.S. winery certified CarbonNeutral® by Natural Capital Partners.

  • B Corp Certification: During B Corp recertification in mid-2017, Fetzer Vineyards received an improved score of 95.1, a nearly 15-point improvement over its 2015 score, 80.5.

The Goal: Net Positive Wine

With the understanding that the road will not always be easy, Fetzer Vineyards is poised to take bold steps towards its vision of a regenerative, Net Positive company, and to be part of the movement to redefine what responsible business is all about. To this end, the winery has set a goal to be Net Positive by 2030, by which time it endeavors to replace all negative impacts with positive impacts that enhance and regenerate ecosystems and communities while producing sustainable growth for its business and shareholders. As a Net Positive business one day, Fetzer Vineyards will know that every time someone buys a bottle of Fetzer Vineyards wine, they’re making the world a better place.

Download Road to Regeneration: Corporate Consciousness Report, at http://bit.ly/fetzer_susty Download Report Highlight Infographic, at http://bit.ly/Susty_Infographic

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About Fetzer Vineyards

Founded in 1968 by Barney Fetzer in Mendocino County, California, Fetzer Vineyards is an award- winning purveyor of wines from sustainable, organic and biodynamic grapes. In addition to robust offerings under the winery’s flagship Fetzer label, the winery also crafts the leading wine from organic grapes, Bonterra Organic Vineyards, named the 2016 American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Other California-based offerings include Adorada, Anthony’s Hill, Jekel Vineyards, Sanctuary Wines and 1000 Stories, a Bourbon barrel-aged Zinfandel recognized as a 2017 IMPACT Hot Prospect brand. Part of global winery Viña Concha y Toro, Fetzer Vineyards exports its diverse wines to more than 30 countries worldwide. Most recently, the winery entered the ultra-luxury wine and spirits category by forging a partnership with Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. to sell its historic craft rye whiskey. fetzer.com

Media Contact:

Courtney Cochran | Fetzer Vineyards | 707.670.0268 | courtney.cochran@fetzer.com