January 17, 2018

Fetzer Vineyards Marks 50 Years of Winemaking in California, Launches Social Media Storyteller Series

Iconic American Winery Unveils Historic Storyteller Series, Celebrates Recent Milestones

Mendocino County, Calif. January 17, 2018Fetzer Vineyards, the historic Mendocino County-based winery lauded for its beloved American wine brands and pioneering leadership in sustainability, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018. The flagship Fetzer brand will honor the 50th anniversary year through a variety of activities, most notably the Fetzer 50th Storyteller Series, a robust social media campaign showcasing video interviews with past and present Fetzer luminaries. Fetzer Vineyards’ golden anniversary comes at an exciting time for the winery, which recently expanded into the luxury wine and spirits space and was recognized by the United Nations with a Momentum for Change award for its pacesetting sustainability practices.

Storyteller Series Looks Back on 50 Years of CA Winegrowing

Fetzer’s first-ever storyteller series features interviews with key wine industry personalities, whose collective tales bring to life the rich history and dynamism of the pioneering brand’s past. For 50 weeks following the series’ January 2018 launch, the flagship will release a new one-minute video highlighting a unique Fetzer story, with stories debuting on select social media platforms as well as at Fetzer50th.com.

“It’s exciting to see Fetzer wines brought to life through stories that touch on so many aspects of our past,” said Bob Blue, VP of Winemaking and Winery Operations for Fetzer Vineyards. “From tales of Kathleen Fetzer’s legendary chocolate chip cookies, and lively parties at the Big Dog Saloon to Fetzer’s

success in driving the budding Merlot category, these tales all helped shape who we are today,” continued Blue. Concurrent with the Storyteller Series’ launch, Fetzer has released a revitalized website and limited- edition 50th anniversary commemorative Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $12.99), available nationwide. Fans are invited to join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtags #fetzerstories and #fetzer50th, and to learn more about Fetzer past and present at Fetzer50th.com.

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Fetzer Vineyards Today: Growth in Sync with Sustainability

The golden anniversary and Storyteller Series signal a festive time for Fetzer Vineyards, which concluded 2017 having reached a number of new milestones while expanding its portfolio in the growing luxury and import categories. Key milestones include the release of Fetzer Vineyards’ first-ever sustainability report, Road to Regeneration, and the receipt of five sustainability-related recognitions in 2017, including the UN honor as well as the Amorim Sustainability Award from The Drinks Business. In September, Fetzer Vineyards announced a sales partnership with luxury craft whiskey producer Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. to represent its Kentucky Peerless Straight Rye Whiskey, named one of the world’s “Top 20 Whiskies” by Whisky Advocate magazine in November, in the U.S. Also in 2017, Fetzer Vineyards introduced Adorada, a duo of premium wines crafted in a uniquely aromatic style, and celebrated receipt of an

IMPACT “Hot Prospect” award for its 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel-Aged California Zinfandel.

Building on this momentum in its 50th year, Fetzer Vineyards recently expanded its import footprint with the assumption of U.S. import rights for admired Chilean wine brand Cono Sur, effective January 1, 2018. New Fetzer Vineyards portfolio additions including Peerless, Adorada and Cono Sur allow the vintner to expand its offerings in the important luxury and premium import segments of the wine and spirits market, while offering ever greater diversity to commercial partners. In step with these developments, Fetzer Vineyards remains committed to growing its portfolio in sync with an ongoing emphasis on regenerative business practices that ultimately aim to put more resources back into communities and the environment than the winery uses in crafting its collection.

Looking Ahead to the Next 50 Years

“Growing our business while maintaining a focus on sustainable practices and the values that enabled us to become the world’s largest certified B-Corp winery is at the heart of what we do,” said Fetzer

Vineyards CEO, Giancarlo Bianchetti. “As we anticipate the next 50 years, we look forward to taking more bold steps towards our vision of a regenerative, Net Positive company, while continuing to deliver a portfolio of acclaimed wines and spirits to consumers in all 50 U.S. states and around the world. This is just the beginning,” said Bianchetti.

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 including the iconic Sundial Chardonnay and Valley Oaks Cabernet, 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 offerings include Adorada, Anthony’s Hill, Jekel Vineyards, Sanctuary Wines and 1000 Stories, a Bourbon barrel-aged Zinfandel recognized as an IMPACT Hot Prospect brand, as well as acclaimed imports Cono Sur and Viña Maipo. Part of global winery Viña Concha y Toro, Fetzer Vineyards exports its diverse wines to more than 50 countries worldwide.

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.

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Media Contacts:

Courtney Cochran | Fetzer Vineyards | 415.728.4004 | courtney.cochran@fetzer.com

Kat Gore | Fetzer Vineyards | 707.331.2016 | kat.gore@fetzer.com

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, 2017Fetzer 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

April 21, 2017

Fetzer Vineyards’ Hard-Working Worms Save Energy, Regenerate Water & Win Over Fans This Earth Day

California vintner looks to nature to conserve resources, achieve sustainability goals

MENDOCINO COUNTY, April 21, 2017 – This Earth Day, sustainability pioneer Fetzer Vineyards announces completion of its revolutionary BIDA® wastewater treatment system, which relies on billions of worms to clean up the winery’s process water. The California vintner’s worms – which work in tandem with microbes to digest contaminants in greywater – are at the heart of a natural system from BioFiltro that uses 85% less energy to clean winery water, regenerating up to 17 million gallons annually for re-use in vineyards and landscaping. The new system is one of a number of Earth-friendly innovations Fetzer Vineyards has recently introduced in an effort to preserve vital resources and find ever-more-efficient ways to put planet conservation on an even playing field with premium winemaking.

To celebrate the BIDA® system’s completion, Fetzer Vineyards created a video that showcases how the worm system works. The vintner also celebrated the system’s completion at an annual employee Earth Day celebration April 20th at its certified ZeroWaste, CarbonNeutral® winery in Hopland, California. In addition to feting the launch of the worm-powered system, Fetzer Vineyards employees enjoyed a pie baking contest and planted an employee garden, organic produce from which will nourish many of their families throughout the year. “From our worms to our winemakers, we have an incredible team that comes together to create innovative ways to make great wine while giving back to the Earth,” said Josh Prigge, Fetzer Vineyards’ Director of Regenerative Development. “Earth Day is a chance for us to

celebrate and remember what’s most important – a healthy environment and healthy communities.”

Working with Worms & Big Data to Conserve Energy, Water

Fetzer Vineyards – which crafts a portfolio of premium California wines including its flagship Fetzer collection of wines, available nationally – is the first American winery to use the BIDA® System to treat 100% of its wastewater. In January of this year, the winery announced another important sustainability milestone in the wine industry: installation of a fleet of APANA® smart water meters at its Mendocino winery, where Internet-of-Things technology and cloud computing will allow winemakers and facilities teams to spot water leaks in real time, reducing waste. Fetzer Vineyards is the first U.S. winery to install this innovative technology, using big data to save as much as 25% more water. From worms to the latest Internet-of-Things technology, this California vintner’s Earth-friendly efforts aim to be as innovative as

they are effective.

To share more about its sustainability initiatives, including how worms are an essential part of its plan to

preserve resources and be good for the Earth, Fetzer Vineyards developed a new page on its website containing facts about planet-friendly practices. Visit fetzer.com/commitment for more on Fetzer Vineyards’ regenerative practices, including its novel partnership with worms in the BIDA® treatment system, the winery’s B Corp certification and its support for conservation efforts more broadly.

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About Fetzer Vineyards

A pioneer in regenerative winemaking, Fetzer Vineyards continues its legacy of hard work, rebellious thinking and crafting wines that make a difference. Since its founding in 1968, Fetzer Vineyards has consistently developed and implemented practices that are environmentally friendly, socially

responsible and ultimately regenerative, becoming the world’s largest winery to receive B Corporation certification, in 2015. B Corp certification standards, developed by the non-profit B Lab, are widely recognized as the highest standards for social and environmental responsibility in business. Ultimately, Fetzer Vineyards strives for the perfect relationship between land, climate and vine to regenerate communities and bring wines of remarkable quality and character to the table. Fetzer.com

About the BioFiltro BIDA® System

BioFiltro’s patented BIDA® System is a passive aerobic bioreactor that catalyzes the digestive power of microbes and selected species of red earthworms to naturally remove up to 99% of contaminants from wastewater, in as little as four hours. The chemical-free system consumes significantly less electricity than traditional wastewater treatment technologies like aeration ponds, which require constant electricity to pump and circulate water. The BIDA® System works efficiently year-round in spite of seasonal fluctuations in wastewater flow like those seen in the wine industry, and generates compost- enhancing castings from worm digestion, returning nutrients to the soil. The BIDA® System is currently operating in over 130 plants worldwide and has filtered more than 27 billion gallons of sanitary and

industrial organic liquid waste. BioFiltro.com

 

Media Contact:

Courtney Cochran | Fetzer Vineyards 707.670.0268

courtney.cochran@fetzer.com

January 19, 2017

Sustainability Pioneer Fetzer Vineyards to Leverage Internet of Things and Big Data to Stay Steps Ahead of Water Waste

Winery expects to save up to 25% more water as first wine company to install APANA technology

MENDOCINO COUNTY, January 19, 2017 Fetzer Vineyards, a leader in regenerative winegrowing, is taking another forward-looking step to conserve water with the installation of advanced water metering technology from Bellingham, Washington-based APANA, Inc. The smart water meters, currently being

installed throughout the winery’s Hopland, California campus, will allow Fetzer Vineyards to quickly pinpoint leaks and water waste incidents in real time. Powered by big data insights analyzing the winery’s unique water use profile, the technology will enable Fetzer Vineyards to avoid unnecessary waste episodes and meet its 2020 water efficiency goal two years early, in 2018.

“Integrating APANA’s data analytics and cloud computing technologies with our winery operations allows us to leverage crucial environmental data to achieve our sustainability goals,” said Cindy DeVries, Chief Operating Officer of Fetzer Vineyards. “It also allows us to update and improve our corporate water stewardship efforts at a time when conserving water is more important than ever.”

Uniting Data Flow and Water Flow

Fetzer Vineyards’ new smart water meters are part of APANA’s Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solution, a groundbreaking set of tools allowing businesses to manage water as carefully as they monitor other crucial business assets, such as inventory. The solution’s proprietary hardware and software work by building up a perpetually developing database of clients’ water use patterns, or water signature, allowing them to quickly spot variances and implement savings activities. Because energy use is closely tied to water use, Fetzer Vineyards expects the water meters could contribute to reductions of more than 10,000 kilowatt hours of energy in addition to savings of up to four million gallons of water annually.

Leveraging Tech for Solutions to Water Challenges

The World Economic Forum identified water as the top global risk for the first time in 2015, and more than two-thirds of the world’s businesses report exposure to water risk, often at the expense of growth.1 With a global shortfall of 40% expected for water supply versus demand by the year 2030,2 business as usual in an era of changing climate and growing population requires ever-more-innovative approaches to resource conservation and optimization. Cutting-edge solutions like APANA’s that leverage cloud computing and data-driven technologies are poised to help businesses address both the economic and ecological realities of tomorrow, allowing water-intensive businesses such as wineries to remain

competitive while continuing to minimize environmental impacts.

Pursuing a Comprehensive Approach to Net Positive Operations

“Fetzer Vineyards is thrilled to pioneer use of this technology in the wine industry,” said Josh Prigge, Director of Regenerative Development for Fetzer Vineyards, who was instrumental in establishing the winery’s ambitious goal to become Net Positive by 2030. “We know that implementing digital solutions can significantly reduce impacts in areas like water use, and we see technologies like APANA’s working hand-in-hand with comprehensive, efficiency-focused efforts to improve our overall water footprint.”

In 2016, Fetzer Vineyards announced it will be the first wine company in the US to install BioFiltro’s BIDA® System, a revolutionary wastewater treatment solution that functions as a passive aerobic bioreactor, using red worms and microbes to treat the winery’s wastewater 85% more efficiently than traditional aeration technologies.

Fetzer Vineyards supports water conservation advocacy efforts through collaborations with groups like the Blue Business Council and Ceres’ Connect the Drops in California, while also pursuing broader environmental advocacy initiatives such as participation in the Low Carbon USA pledge. Recently signed by hundreds of the nation’s leading businesses, Low Carbon USA encourages policymakers to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement and the domestic infrastructure required for a thriving, competitive and earth- friendly low-carbon economy. For more on Fetzer Vineyards’ sustainability efforts in these important impact areas, visit www.fetzer.com/water and www.fetzer.com/carbonneutral.

  1. Source: CDP Global Water Report 2016
  2. Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Water Facts and Trends

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About Fetzer Vineyards

A pioneer in regenerative winemaking, Fetzer Vineyards continues its legacy of hard work, rebellious thinking and crafting wines that make a difference. Since its founding in 1968, Fetzer Vineyards has consistently developed and implemented practices that are environmentally friendly, socially responsible and ultimately regenerative, becoming the world’s largest winery to receive B Corporation certification, in 2015. B Corp certification standards, developed by the non-profit B Lab, are widely recognized as the highest standards for social and environmental responsibility in business. Ultimately, Fetzer Vineyards strives for the perfect relationship between land, climate and vine to regenerate communities and bring wines of remarkable quality and character to the table. www.fetzer.com

About APANA

APANA is a technology and services company that helps commercial and industrial businesses manage water. The APANA solution provides business with detailed insight into their total water footprint, identifying process drift, mechanical malfunctions and failure points. Real-time, automated information empowers frontline operators with data to address problems when they occur and to institutionalize best practices throughout the organization’s water processes. Companies also use APANA intelligence to

reduce compliance risk and strengthen operational sustainability. www.apana.com

 

Media Contact:

Courtney Cochran | Fetzer Vineyards 707.670.0268

courtney.cochran@fetzer.com

April 6, 2016

Fetzer Vineyards Announces Installation of Regenerative BioFiltro BIDA® Water Filtration System, Using Worms & Microbes to Treat Winery Wastewater

Leading Regenerative Business Is First American Winery to Use Innovative Water System at Scale

MENDOCINO COUNTY, April 6, 2016 Fetzer Vineyards, a leader in regenerative winegrowing, is revolutionizing the way U.S. wineries conserve water, announcing today that it will install the BioFiltro BIDA® System at its Mendocino winery. In doing so, Fetzer Vineyards will become the first American winery to use the innovative, closed-loop biological wastewater treatment system to process 100% of its winery wastewater. Powered by billions of earthworms working rapidly in concert with beneficial microbes, the BIDA® System will begin processing Fetzer Vineyards’ wastewater during the 2016 harvest season, accruing energy savings up to 85% over current wastewater treatment technologies and optimizing water conservation measures in support of the fight against climate change.

“It’s essential that we constantly ask ourselves if there is a better, more efficient and more regenerative way to approach our business, including the way we work with water,” said Giancarlo Bianchetti, CEO of Fetzer Vineyards. “BioFiltro offers a compelling process that aligns with our business goals as well as our overarching objective to leave the world a better place than we found it.”

Implementing the BioFiltro BIDA® System

BioFiltro’s patented BIDA® System is a passive aerobic bioreactor that catalyzes the digestive power of microbes and selected species of red earthworms to naturally remove up to 99% of contaminants from Fetzer Vineyards’ wastewater, in as little as four hours. The chemical-free system consumes significantly less electricity than traditional wastewater treatment technologies like aeration ponds, which require constant electricity to pump and circulate water. The BIDA® System works efficiently year-round in spite of seasonal fluctuations in wastewater flow like those seen in the wine industry, and generates compost-enhancing castings from worm digestion, returning nutrients to the soil.

Working with Worms to Fight Climate Change

Global studies show that water scarcity and water stress are increasing, and as much as 15% to 35% of human withdrawals of water for agriculture are considered unsustainable.1 Achievement of climate change-related commitments like those made at last year’s Paris Climate Conference (“COP21”) will require that businesses strategically manage their water footprints for maximum efficacy while mitigating negative impacts. Natural, regenerative solutions such as the BIDA® System offer a new paradigm for water treatment systems, delivering closed-loop mechanisms that efficiently process

wastewater on site and restore it to beneficial use, without significant energy output or emissions.

Innovating Towards Water Positive Operations

“Innovating to naturally manage our water footprint is an important step in our journey to become Water Positive, essential to our goal of Net Positive operations by 2030,” said Josh Prigge, Director of Regenerative Development for Fetzer Vineyards, who recently advocated for carbon-neutral winegrowing practices on a global scale at COP21. “With this new system we’ll treat some 15 million gallons of water a year, with significant efficiency gains—and bring things full-circle with enhanced compost for our soils and clean water for vineyard and landscape irrigation. It’s a win-win.”

Research shows that a majority of global consumers, and especially Millennials, support companies that are committed to minimizing environmental impacts and that prioritize sustainable approaches to operations.2 To share more about its water initiatives, Fetzer Vineyards developed a new page on its website containing facts about agricultural water use and details about the company’s water policy support. Visit fetzer.com/water for more on Fetzer Vineyards’ water initiatives, including its adoption of BioFiltro’s BIDA® treatment system and its support for water conservation research and advocacy through collaborations with groups like the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) and Ceres’ Connect the Drops, both of which were commended for their water policy efforts at the White House Water Summit on Building a Sustainable Water Future in the United States on March 22, 2016.

1 Source: UNWater.org: World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Water Facts and Trends

2 Source: 2015 Nielsen Global Corporate Sustainability Report

About Fetzer Vineyards

A pioneer in regenerative winemaking, Fetzer Vineyards continues its legacy of hard work, rebellious thinking and crafting wines that make a difference. Since its founding in 1968, Fetzer Vineyards has consistently developed and implemented practices that are environmentally friendly, socially

responsible and ultimately regenerative, becoming the world’s largest winery to receive B Corporation certification, in 2015. B Corp certification standards, developed by the non-profit B Lab, are widely recognized as the highest standards for social and environmental responsibility in business. Ultimately, Fetzer Vineyards strives for the perfect relationship between land, climate and vine to regenerate communities and bring wines of remarkable quality and character to the table. Fetzer.com

About BioFiltro

BioFiltro is an international wastewater filtration company with subsidiaries operating in the United States, New Zealand, and Chile. Its patented BIDA® System catalyzes the digestive power of microbes and worms to naturally remove up to 99% of contaminants from liquid waste in 4 hours. As a chemical and sludge free system that consumes up to 95% less electricity than traditional wastewater technologies, the BIDA® System enables clients to not only significantly reduce wastewater management costs and environmental footprint, but also showcase their commitment to sustainability. The BIDA® System is currently operating in over 130 plants worldwide and has filtered more than 27 billion gallons of sanitary and industrial organic liquid waste. BioFiltro has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Thomson Reuters, and won the Global Clean Tech Open in Silicon Valley in 2011. BioFiltro.com

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Media Contact:

Courtney Cochran | Fetzer Vineyards 707.670.0268

courtney.cochran@fetzer.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec. 7, 2015

Fetzer Vineyards Joins World’s Leading Regenerative Wineries at COP21, Groundbreaking Climate Change Conference in Paris December 7, 2015

Leader in Regenerative Winegrowing Is Among Five Wineries Presenting Solutions for Achieving Climate-Neutral Wines

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Dec. 7, 2015 – Today Fetzer Vineyards will be among five wineries worldwide and the only US winery sharing key successes and ideas for working towards a carbon-neutral future at Caring for Climate, the official Business Forum at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (“COP21”), presented by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (“UNFCCC”). The largest winery in the world to achieve B Corp Certification earlier this year, Fetzer Vineyards will address topics at what is expected to be the largest-ever climate change conference including zero-waste business practices, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and initiatives that will enable the Winery to achieve its goal of net-positive operations by 2030.

“Climate Action in a Bottle Red, White or Rosé?” will be the only seminar on the topic of wine

presented at COP21’s Business Forum. Fetzer Vineyards, the first winery in the world to receive Zero Waste certification and diverting 98.5% of all waste from landfill, was invited by the United Nations to share more on its forward-thinking practices following the Winery’s achievement of B Corp status.

Nearly 700 participants are expected to attend Caring for Climate, a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and action among businesses, investors, civil society, the UN and Government officials, with the UN Secretary-General participating in key aspects of the event.

“The wine industry is uniquely positioned to tell the story of climate change, because wine grapes are dependent on specific climates and regions for the growing of quality fruit, making vineyards especially vulnerable to a warming climate,” said Giancarlo Bianchetti, CEO of Fetzer Vineyards. “In addition to measures we take in our vineyards to mitigate the effects of climate change, we aim to constantly

improve our environmental measures, from energy initiatives enabling us to be the first winery in

California to operate on 100% renewable energy, to farming measures that have made us the largest

organic winegrape grower in the U.S. certified by California Certified Organic Farmers.”

Josh Prigge, Fetzer Vineyards’ Director of Regenerative Development, will discuss ideas for measuring, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and winery operations at Caring for Climate alongside other sustainable leaders from the wine industry. Also appearing in the seminar are Valentina Lira from Concha y Toro, Jean-Guillaume Prats of Moët Chandon Estates and Wines, Alice Tourbier of Château Smith Haut Lafitte and Robert Eden of Château Maris. Niclas Svenningsen, representing the UNFCCC Secretariat, will moderate the seminar and panel discussion to follow.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this incredible program, whose topic—working towards making climate- neutral wines a reality on a global scale—underscores our ethos as a Winery, and what we’ve been

working towards since our founding in 1968,” said Prigge. “We began reporting greenhouse gas emissions to the Climate Registry in 2005 and have reduced our emissions over 50% in the years since.

I’m looking forward to sharing lessons from this initiative and others, as we all face the same challenges in moving towards climate-impact neutrality and, ultimately, net positive operations.”

Caring for Climate Business Forum is an initiative of Climate Neutral Now, UNFCCC’s vehicle for engaging all parts of society to take action to become climate neutral by measuring, reducing and offsetting their climate footprints. Caring for Climate takes place concurrently with COP21, the larger climate conference, where UN negotiations aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate for the first time since UNFCCC was founded in 1994, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

For more information on Fetzer Vineyards’ regenerative strategy and initiatives, please visit fetzer.com/commitment. Follow the Winery @FetzerWines on Twitter and at Facebook.com/Fetzer to learn more about the latest developments in regenerative and climate-neutral winegrowing.

About Fetzer Vineyards

A pioneer in regenerative winemaking, Fetzer Vineyards continues its legacy of hard work, rebellious thinking and crafting wines that make a difference. Since its founding in 1968, Fetzer Vineyards has consistently developed and implemented practices that are environmentally friendly, socially responsible and ultimately regenerative, becoming the world’s largest winery to receive B Corporation certification, in 2015. B Corp certification standards, developed by the non-profit B Lab, are widely recognized as the highest standards for social and environmental responsibility in business. Fetzer Vineyards strives for the perfect relationship between land, climate and vine to regenerate communities and bring wines of remarkable quality and character to the table.

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Media Contact:

Courtney Cochran | Fetzer Vineyards 707.670.0268

courtney.cochran@fetzer.com