San Francisco, Calif.—Fetzer Vineyards won the California Green Medal Leader Award in honor of the wine company’s steps toward becoming a sustainable wine producing and grape grower.

The California Green Medal was developed by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), California Association of Winegrape Growers, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners, Vineyard Team and Wine Institute. More than a dozen of California's regional winery and winegrowing association partners also helped to promote the new awards which were selected by a panel of wine and sustainability experts. Winners were honored at a reception and ceremony at the University of California, Davis, on April 10.

Fetzer Vineyards, which is owned by the Chilean wine company Concha y Toro, won the Leader award in honor of becoming the first California winery to operate on 100% renewable energy in 1999, for being the largest U.S. producer of certified organic wine grapes and for becoming the first certified “Zero Waste” company in the world.

Benziger Family Winery won the “Green Medal Environment Award” for best demonstrating environmental stewardship through environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices. Nord Vineyard Services won the Green Medal Community Award for its innovative practices to enhance relations with employees, neighbors and/or communities. Trinchero Family Estates won the Green Medal Business Award for best demonstrating smart business through efficiencies, cost savings and innovation from implementing sustainable winegrowing practices.