Sacramento, Calif.—The winners of the second annual Green Medal: Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards were announced and honored at a ceremony held April 20. The awards honor growers and vintners that are committed to producing wine grapes and wine with sustainable methods. 

The 2016 winners are: 

Jackson Family Wines in Santa Rosa won the "Leader Award" for being a sustainability innovator and early adopter of healthy land management practices. Incorporating triple bottom-line sustainability principles across all aspects of their business, the company deployed solar arrays at 8 wineries and collaborated with Tesla to reduce energy demand and increase grid reliability paid a price premium for certified sustainable winegrapes and led voluntary drought initiatives.

Halter Ranch Vineyard in Paso Robles, Calif., won the “Environment Award” for preserving 1,700 acres of the Halter Ranch property and working with the Wyss Foundation to help further conservation efforts. The company also also reduced irrigation water use by 50% and captures winery water and rainwater.

Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles won the “Community Award” for partnering with organizations such as must! charities, the local animal shelter, arts and youth sports organizations and has donated more than $100,000 to support local youth and arts programs since 2002.

McManis Family Vineyards in Ripon won the “Business Award” for its efforts to improve water efficiency through the use of soil moisture sensors, flow meters and distribution uniformity tests. Sustainable practices have also decreased energy use, diesel use and tractor work and limited the impact on soil.

The awards are presented by by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, the California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners, Sonoma County Winegrowers and The Vineyard Team.