As a long-time member of 1% For The Planet, Spottswoode has also made significant contributions to environmental causes over the past thirteen years, with more to come in the future.
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. – October 14, 2020 – As climate change-driven heatwaves and wildfires continue to impact California, Napa Valley’s historic Spottswoode Estate is proud to announce that it achieved B Corp certification on July 26, 2020. Widely regarded as the gold standard for social and environmental business practices, B Corp is the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance, and includes independent third-party assessments of a company’s impact on its workers, community, environment, and customers. With this certification, Spottswoode Estate becomes the first winery in Napa Valley, and the third in California, to earn the coveted B Corp designation.
“The climate crisis is at our doorstep, and it is already reshaping our communities and the wine industry,” says Spottswoode Estate President & CEO Beth Novak Milliken. “Now is the time not just for advocacy, but for action and accountability. By earning our B Corp certification, we are letting our customers and our community know that we are fighting for the environment, for social justice and for positive change.”
Spottswoode’s “modern” era began in 1972, when the Novak family acquired the historic Spottswoode Estate, which was founded and first planted as a vineyard in 1882. In the years since, two generations of the Novak family have stewarded the vineyard, and made it a proving ground for environmentally responsible winegrowing and winemaking. In 1985, Spottswoode became one of the first wineries in Napa Valley to farm its estate vineyard organically—and it has been untouched by chemicals ever since. Today, Spottswoode is certified organic and biodynamic, and is solar powered.
Beyond being one of the greenest wineries in the world, since 2007 Spottswoode has donated 1% of its gross annual revenue to 1% for the Planet—a visionary organization that helps companies support environmental causes in meaningful and measurable ways. To date, Spottswoode has donated more than $824,000 to environmental causes through 1% for the Planet, including major annual donations to the Land Trust of Napa County, Napa Valley Vine Trail, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Forest Foundation, and numerous other land and biodiversity preservation funds. Spottswoode also actively supports organizations that advocate for inclusivity, equality and social justice.
“Our business is guided by a Core Purpose Statement that reads: Grounded in Stewardship, we believe in effecting meaningful change through nurturing our vineyards, communities, and planet,” says Milliken, who is a past president of the Napa Valley Vintners, currently serves on its Board and chairs its Environmental Stewardship Committee. “This is a defining moment for our environment and our industry. The actions we take, or don’t take, especially in the next ten years, will have implications for generations to come. We are committed to making a difference, and earning our B Corp certification is another step in our ongoing mission.”
Recognized as one of Napa Valley’s most revered small, family-run wineries, Spottswoode has earned acclaim for producing some of the world’s finest wines, most notably its Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. “From our early adoption of organic farming onwards, I hope that we have helped to show the California wine industry that being green is entirely compatible with making world-class wines,” adds Milliken.
In 2017, Spottswoode was honored with the Green Medal Environment Award from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute and Napa Valley Vintners. Spottswoode has also signed onto the Porto Protocol, and is among the first four applicant members of International Wineries for Climate Change, the organization founded by Torres in Spain, and Jackson Family Wines here in California. The winery is currently working toward its LEED certification, and is also researching becoming a California Benefit Corporation, which would further demonstrate Spottswoode’s commitment to social and environmental justice.
About Spottswoode Estate
After a decade of growing wine grapes at their historic Napa Valley vineyard, the Novak family made its first vintage of Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982. In the years since, Spottswoode has become one of Napa Valley’s defining wineries. Stewarded by Beth Novak Milliken, Spottswoode has stayed true to an elegant, balanced and age-worthy style that captures the character of each vintage and the complexity of the Spottswoode Estate Vineyard. Originally planted in 1882, the Spottswoode Estate Vineyard has been farmed organically since 1985, and has earned acclaim as one of the finest sites for Cabernet Sauvignon in the world. To learn more, visit www.spottswoode.com.
About B Corp Certification:
The certification is issued by B Lab, the not-for-profit organization behind the B Corp movement. The certification covers five key areas: governance, worker, community, environment and customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach certain benchmark scores while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, staff compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company then legally embeds its commitment to purpose beyond profit in the company articles. To date, there are over 3,500 Certified B Corps in 150 industries and 74 countries.
