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IMPLEMENT: SOIL HEALTH & CARBON SEQUESTRATION Healthy Soils are Essential for Vineyard Adaptation and Mitigation Maintaining and enhancing soil health is one of the most effective strategies for adapting to climate change impacts and addressing mitigation in a vineyard. Adaptation : Healthy soils can help address drought, excess precipitation and extreme heat. Management practices that increase organic matter, enhance soil structure, and reduce soil disturbance, especially during high rainfall events, can improve water availability and promote water storage and infiltration. Mitigation : Healthy soils sequester and store more atmospheric carbon. Soil amendments - including compost, biochar, and mulch - can help increase and retain soil organic carbon, and cover crops can also increase soil organic carbon. An added benefit to these climate smart practices is increased soil fertility, which improves plant health and resiliency to pests and disease pressure. The many benefits to healthy soils are the key reason it is an important part of any sustainable, regenerative, organic or biodynamic winegrowing approach. Priority Practices Quick Links: Optimizing Nitrogen Cover Crops Soil Amendments Reduced Tillage Non-Crop Vegetation & Carbon Carbon Sequestration: The capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in plant material and soils. Plants are considered a “sink” for CO2 because they uptake CO2 during photosynthesis and store it in plant tissue such as leaves, wood, and roots. The burning of vines can release some of this carbon back into the atmosphere. Chipping and low smoke burning techniques used to produce biochar can significantly reduce these carbon loses. Optimizing Nitrogen is Vital to Reducing Vineyard GHG Emissions An important source of vineyard GHG emissions is the use of nitrogen fertilizers. When any nitrogen is added to soil, some of the applied nitrogen can be converted to N2 O. This can happen to any nitrogen-containing additive including synthetic fertilizers (e.g. nitrate and ammonium) and organic materials (e.g. green manures and pomace). All N2 O production associated with vineyards results from soil microbes using the nitrogen instead of the vines. Providing just enough nitrogen that vines need and timing nitrogen applications to ensure maximum uptake by roots can decrease N2 O emissions. Optimize Nitrogen Cover Crops are a Powerful Tool for Adaptation and Mitigation Cover crops can buffer the negative effects of extreme weather events — e.g., precipitation and flooding, along with heat waves. The use of cover crops can increase the storage of carbon in vineyard soils and decrease CO2 emissions. Perennial cover crops are most efficient at doing this because of their greater root production. In addition to increasing soil carbon, leguminous cover crops supply nitrogen to the soil, and may be used to decrease applications of synthetic fertilizers. Cover crops also decrease the offsite movement and loss of soil organic matter by erosion and nitrogen by leaching. Cover Crops Soil Amendments Soil Amendments Increase Water Storage Soil amendments such as compost, mulch and biochar can increase soil organic matter, water storage capacity and nutrient cycling. Compost can improve soil structure and increase soil water storage, with the level of impact dependant on the compost characteristics and the number and rate of applications. Mulch is effective as both a soil cover, improving soil water storage, and a means of increasing soil organic matter. Biochar has many positive benefits including on water and nutrient retention, improved soil structure and carbon sequestration. Reduced Tillage Helps with Mitigation and Adaptation The act of tilling soil can consume substantial quantities of fossil fuel. By breaking up soil aggregates, tillage increases soil emissions of CO2 and N2 O by mobilizing carbon and nitrogen, thus allowing microbes to access and consume previously protected organic matter. Each tillage pass causes some loss of soil-sequestered carbon. Decreases in tillage not only limit CO2 emissions but protects against the loss of organic matter through erosion which increases the soils ability to absorb excess precipitation. Reduced Tillage Non-Crop Vegetation Carbon Sequestration Potential Non-crop vegetation in and around vineyards such as buffer strips, hedgerows, natural woodlands, and riparian flora can also contribute to climate mitigation. The carbon stored in these woody long-lived perennial plants and the soil in these areas can represent a large source of sequestered carbon, significantly decreasing overall GHG emissions. Oak woodlands, for example, can store large amounts of above- and below-ground carbon over their lifetime. In addition, these areas can help reduce soil erosion and runoff, which helps in extreme weather events that are increasing due to climate change and increases carbon sequestration potential by keeping soil in place. Non-Crop Vegetation Sustainable, Regenerative, Organic and Biodynamic Farming are Climate Smart Many of the soil health practices included in this toolkit will look familiar to growers who participate in certification programs for sustainable, regenerative, organic or biodynamic winegrape growing. All of these farming approaches include practices to build and maintain soil health, which has a direct impact on the ability of a vineyard to mitigate and adapt to climate change. To learn more about the relationship between sustainable and regenerative winegrowing, see the CSWA Sustainable and Regenerative Winegrowing Handout , which includes a list of regenerative winegrowing principles and examples of practices to help winegrape growers better understand and communicate about the relationship. Resources: Soil Health & Carbon Sequestration Implementation Guide : The guide includes practices and resources for optimizing nitrogen, increasing organic matter, cover crops, carbon sequestration and erosion prevention. Habitat & Biodiversity Implementation Guide : The guide outlines key practices and resources to support implementation of wildlife habitat such as hedgerows, buffer strips and nesting boxes, native woodlands and riparian and aquatic habitats.

IMPLEMENT: WINERY WATER & SOLID WASTE Conserving Water in the Winery Contributes to Adaptation and Mitigation California vintners recognize the need to conserve water and improve efficiency to ensure the future availability of quality water – for agriculture, communities, and the environment. Increased droughts expected with climate change will create more pressure on wineries to conserve water. Reducing water used in the winemaking, cleaning and sanitation processes begins with identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements through a water assessment and comprehensive water management program. Being climate smart in the winery to maximize water use efficiency reduces GHG emissions by using less energy to pump, heat and move water. Effective Solid Waste Management Can Reduce a Winery’s Carbon Footprint Reducing and recycling solid waste helps conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gases and decrease costs for businesses. Monitoring and reducing solid waste can have a significant impact on a winery's overall carbon footprint by reducing both the energy required to create new items from raw materials and the emissions associated with sending items to landfill. Reducing, reusing, and recycling materials provides greenhouse gas emissions reductions and other benefits through: Reducing methane emissions by reducing organic material sent to landfill. Repurposing organic material to increase soil health. Recycling materials and reducing the energy (and associated GHGs) needed to create a new product from raw materials. A Climate Smart Approach to Winery Water & Solid Waste Promotes a Circular Supply Chain A climate smart approach for both winery water and solid waste aims to create a circular supply chain by implementing the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. A circular supply chain attempts to eliminate waste and continually use resources. Below are some examples of how winery water and solid waste can be managed with reducing, reusing and recycling in mind. Reduce: Water: Conserve water (e.g., monitor and measure, address hot spots such as sanitation, seek vendors who use less water in the manufacturing of the products you purchase). Solid Waste: Reduce consumption and/or explore alternative products of materials used in the winery (such as lighter weight glass) and work with vendors to reduce the packaging used for winery materials. Reuse: Water: Hot water used to clean barrels can be filtered and re-used several times, drastically reducing overall water usage for this practice. Solid Waste: Compost food, pomace, lees and cardboard – doing so can divert 50% or more of winery’s solid waste stream. Work with vendors to take back packaging used to deliver materials. Cardboard case boxes used in the winery can be broken down carefully and reused up to five times for rebottling and moving wine back into the tasting room, which also results in cost savings. Recycle: Water: Process water from the winery that is treated properly can be used for irrigation in vineyards and winery landscaping or alternatively discharge it on land to recharge the local aquifer. Solid Waste: Collect and recycle single-use plastics (e.g., pallet wrap). Once all reuse options have been exhausted for non-compostable items such as paper and glass products, recycle these items using local recycling facilities. Resources: Solid Waste - Implementation Guide : Provides details on how to conduct a solid waste audit and how to reduce, reuse and recycle winery materials such as glass, cardboard, pallets, corks, plastic, metal, food waste, etc. Winery Water - Implementation Guide : Provides details on creating a water conservation management program to conserve water throughout the winery operations.

IMPLEMENT: VITICULTURE ADAPTATION Managing for Climate-Adapted Vines Across all winegrowing regions of the world, climate change impacts are already apparent and demonstrate a multitude of challenges, most notably seasonal variability and chaotic weather fluctuations. Adapting vineyard development and viticultural practices to withstand stressors like heatwaves, droughts, floods and altered growing seasons ensures sustainability against ever-changing and unpredictable environmental conditions. To build resiliency to current and projected impacts, winegrape growers must make viticulture management decisions based on their vineyard’s vulnerabilities and risks in the face of climate change. The information below will help growers create flexible strategies and identify adaptation practices suitable for current and future challenges. Priority Practices Quick Links: Rootstocks & Scions Vineyard Design & Canopy Management Wildfire Preparedness Building Resiliency to Climate Change Impacts with Climate Smart Vineyard Design When planting or replanting a vineyard or block, there are key elements to vineyard design that can have lasting benefits in a changing climate. Most importantly, strategically choosing both rootstock and scion can improve the resilience of vineyards to climate change. Vineyard design considerations such as row orientation and trellising, along with canopy management practices can further increase the resilience of grapevines. By understanding the climate risks that are most likely for your vineyard site, you can tailor your selections and design considerations to address water stress, increased erosion potential, and/or high heat events. Selecting Rootstocks & Scions for Climate Resiliency When selecting rootstocks and scions to plant in a new or replanted vineyard, consider what climate change impacts are predicted for your region. Choosing rootstocks and scions that are well-suited for current and predicted changes from climate change will ensure your vineyard’s sustainability. Rootstock selection can affect vine growth, yield and disease resistance with limited influence on berry quality. Generally, high vigor rootstocks can better access water in dry years and have longer growing seasons, while low vigor rootstocks may better resist extreme drought because of their smaller canopies. Also consider rootstocks that resist soil-borne pests present in the region or pests that may be exacerbated by climate change. Various scions provide different adaptive benefits and can be more resilient to climate impacts such as increased drought, changing seasonality, extreme heat, frost, and pest and disease pressure. When choosing a scion consider: Phenology: Late-ripening varieties such as Grenache, Monastrelle and Petit Verdot can mitigate the effects of compressed development. Heat Tolerance: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Grenache and Syrah are known to be better suited for warm climates. Drought Tolerance: Look for varieties with high water use efficiency to handle increased water stress. Cultivars associated with warm and dry climates, like Cabernet Sauvignon, may also be better suited for drought conditions. Rootstocks & Scions Changing Seasonality: Varietal-Specific Vulnerabilities Recent research describes how modeling for six winegrape varieties in 12 of California’s AVAs show potential changes in phenology and environmental conditions: Compressing of Development: Results show more rapid development for winegrapes with earlier budburst, flowering, veraison, and maturation across all varieties and AVAs. Cabernet Sauvignon shows the greatest change in phenology timing, while Chardonnay shows the least change. Projections of Pinot Noir development show chill being delayed by 1-3 weeks and maturity occurring 1-3 weeks earlier. More Extreme Heat: Heatwave events (extreme temperatures lasting for consecutive days) decrease berry size and influence berry chemistry which can impact yield and quality in many cultivars. Heatwaves can be hazardous to worker safety and productivity. Increased Water Demand: Warmer temperatures and more extreme heat days will increase water demand, which in some regions may be exacerbated by decreased winter precipitation which is necessary for soil moisture recharge. Less Changes in Warmer Climates: Warm-climate AVAs like Lodi and Madera will see less drastic changes in winegrape phenology than cooler-climate AVAs like West Sonoma Coast and SLO Coast. To learn more about the research findings including more specific information by AVA, watch this video summary or see the research paper, “A variety specific analysis of climate change effects on California Winegrapes” (Parker, et al., 2024). Vineyard Design & Canopy Management Can Help Regulate Extreme Temperature and Sun Exposure Vineyard design and canopy management practices can offer significant protection to grapevines against climate change. Vineyards designed with east-to-west trellising are more resistant to temperature extremes than those running north-south, although other factors such as site topography can influence the preferred orientation. Grapevines with elongated trunks are more resistant to temperature extremes than those close to the ground. Orienting vineyard rows to minimize erosion is also important, particularly when heavy rain events follow periods of dry weather that have diminished the soil’s capacity for water absorption. Using canopy management techniques like leaf thinning and shoot trimming can help regulate canopy temperature and sun exposure. Vineyard pruning and thinning practices may increase soil carbon storage if the extracted biomass remains in the vineyard. Similarly, the dropping of fruit can be a valuable carbon input. When developing a new vineyard site conserving existing native perennial vegetation can preserve sources of carbon storage. Planting hedgerows with native vegetation when existing plants cannot be maintained enhances the surrounding habitat by providing areas for beneficial insects to flourish to help with pest pressures. Vineyard Design & Canopy Mgmt Preparing for Wildfires Climate change is already creating changes in wildfire dynamics, leading to increases in extreme wildfire events, which can indirectly impact grape and wine quality through vineyard smoke exposure. Climate science shows these extreme wildfire events are likely to continue to increase in the future. It is important to ensure your property and staff are prepared for a potential fire. Visit the resources below to help you prepare. Wildfire Preparedness Resources: A Winegrower's Guide to Preparing for Wildfires : Includes a checklist with steps to take to reduce the risk of fire on your property and how to prepare your vineyard or winery staff in the event of a fire. West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force : Includes relevant research and industry resources on best practices, crop insurance, wildfire preparedness, informational videos, etc. Wildfire Preparedness & Recovery Resources : Wine Institute has compiled resources to help winegrowers proactively prepare for the risk and threat from fire season. Wildfire Preparedness Viticulture Adaptation Resources: Viticulture Adaptation Implementation Guide : This guide provides details and resources about adaptation practices related to vineyard design and rootstock and scion selection. Managing California’s Vineyards for Resilience: Strategies for a Changing Climate : A summary handout of the findings of a recent literature review conducted by the USDA California Climate Hub that synthesizes the key climate change impacts that will affect California vineyards. Climate Change and California's Winegrapes : An educational webpage/StoryMap created by the USDA California Climate Hub that covers the projected impacts of climate change on winegrape phenology, the adaptation and mitigation strategies currently available to producers, and the gaps in research and technology that must be addressed to protect the future of winegrape production in the state.

RESOURCES Additional Resources Communicating Climate Action Glossary of Climate Smart Terms Resources Referenced throughout Toolkit Climate Action Plan Worksheet - Template Implementation Guides Literature Review - California Climate Hub Carbon Footprint Study Cost-Share Opportunities California Winegrape Growers and Vintners are on a Climate Action Mission:  To use climate smart practices to lead the way towards a vibrant and sustainable future. We are the fourth largest wine producing region in the world, with nearly 400,000 acres of certified sustainable vineyards, more than 65% of the state’s total vineyards, and with 90% of California wine made in a certified sustainable winery. Our climate smart winemaking methods are working — at a scale that makes a difference.     Climate Change Demands Climate Action  In California we’ve learned to change course when necessary, adapting our winegrowing practices to save natural resources and make better wine.      By striking a balance between long-established and modern-day practices, we’ve found ways to reduce energy consumption and lessen our environmental impact. Be it with electric tractors, LEED-certified buildings, night harvesting or adorable flocks of sheep, the changes we’ve incorporated have made a measurable difference.     Climate change has stirred most of us to action like never before, and California winegrape growers and vintners believe their best years are ahead of them. Judging by recent vintages, we’d have to agree.      Your Choice Matters. Choose California. Choose Climate Smart Wine.   From grapes to glass, California wines are made by people who believe in a sustainable future for their wines. They’ve made choices, in the vineyard and winery, to use climate smart practices so you can feel good about the wines you choose.    Communicating Communicating Climate Action Incorporating climate action messaging into your sustainability communications is an effective way to share with your customers and stakeholders the many ways the California wine community and your company are addressing climate change. Below are a few examples of climate action messages that you may use verbatim or modify to make relevant for your own marketing and communications needs. See a full list of example climate action message points . Resources: California Wine Climate Action Message Points : A guide to help wineries and vineyards create communications and marketing messages about climate smart practices. U.S. Wine Trade and Climate Beneficial Practices : Results of research that indicates U.S. wine trade is interested in the climate beneficial attributes of sustainable wine. For more tips on communicating sustainability: Communicating Sustainability Tips: Integrating sustainability into communications strategies Communications Training Guide, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing Glossary of Climate Smart Terms Adaptation: Adaptation refers to practices that help adjust to current and future effects of climate change (such as reduced water availability) or take advantage of opportunities presented by climate change. Carbon Footprint: Vineyard Carbon Footprint: The amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted from vineyard operations (e.g., grape cultivation, equipment use, irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application, harvesting) minus the carbon sequestered in the vineyard's soil and vegetation. Winery Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by a winery operation’s activities, including wine production, packaging, distribution, etc. Carbon Sequestration: The capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in plant material and soils. Plants are considered a “sink” for CO2 because they uptake CO2 during photosynthesis and store it in plant tissue such as leaves, wood, and roots. Climate Positive (aka Carbon Negative): When an organization reduces more emissions than are produced, achieved through reducing use of fossil fuels, using renewable energy and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (i.e., carbon sequestration). Circular Supply Chain: A system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. Climate Smart Winegrowing: Refers to practices that help manage a vineyard or winery’s climate challenges and risks, mitigate climate change impacts (through carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions), and build resiliency to current and future climate impacts. Decarbonization: Switching the source of energy from fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil to carbon-free renewable energy sources. GHG Inventory: A quantified accounting of an operation’s activities that release greenhouse gas emissions or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A GHG inventory can help an operation manage GHG risks and identify reduction opportunities. The emissions included in a GHG inventory are divided into three scopes: Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3. Scope 1: Refers to direct emissions from activities under the company’s control such as production and company vehicles. Scope 2: Refers to all purchased energy (electricity and fuel). Scope 3: Refers to indirect emissions from the value chain such as those generated from transporting and distributing products. Scope 3 emissions for your company are other organizations scope 1 and 2 emissions. Global Warming Potential: The ability of a greenhouse gas to trap extra heat compared to CO2. GHGs referred to as “potent” have a much higher global warming potential than CO2. Hotspot: An area of the product life cycle that has significant potential impact on an environmental aspect, such as GHG emissions, and is identified and generally agreed upon by experts. The intent of identifying hotspots is to understand where to focus improvement initiatives. Mitigation: Mitigation refers to practices that help to reduce the impacts of climate change by reducing emissions of GHGs or through carbon sequestration. Glossary Adaptation Mitigation Carbon footnote Climate Action Plan Worksheet Climate Action Plan Worksheet The Climate Action Plan Worksheet will help you create a strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation, identify where to focus time and resources and a plan for implementation. The worksheet includes a checklist that you can use to track your progress through the toolkit and provides guidance on what information to add to the worksheet. Climate Action Plan Worksheet (Excel File: comprehensive version) Climate Action Plan Worksheet (Word File: simple version) Implementation Guides These guides provide detailed information and concrete steps to implement climate smart practices along with resources and tools to assist with implementation. Cost-share and incentives may be available through governmental and non-governmental organizations to reduce the financial burden of certain practices; therefore, the end of most guides contains a Cost-Share Opportunity section with available assistance and funding opportunities. Vineyard Guides: Viticulture Adaptation Soil Health & Carbon Sequestration Habitat and Biodiversity Vineyard Water Use Efficiency Energy Efficiency & Renewables Sustainable Purchasing Vehicles & Transportation Solid Waste Winery Guides: Energy Efficiency & Renewables Sustainable Purchasing Vehicles & Transportation Solid Waste Water Efficiency Implementation Guides Literature Review Literature Review - California Climate Hub Summary Handout: Managing California’s Vineyards for Resilience: Strategies for a Changing Climate Five strategies for adaptation and mitigation are summarized in this document , which are drawn from the research paper below that synthesizes the literature on the science-backed actions for viticultural response to climate change. Research Paper: Managing California’s Vineyards for a Changing Climate: Science-backed Actions for Adaptation and Mitigation A research paper that provides a curated synthesis of literature on the science-backed actions for viticultural response to climate change across disparate subdisciplines to provide a whole system resource to aid decision support for producers and technical service providers. Carbon Footprint Study California Wine’s Carbon Footprint : Study objectives, results and recommendations for continuous improvement . Results from the carbon footprint study identify the major hotspots (improvement opportunities) for the California wine supply chain. Cost-Share Opportunities Many climate smart practices are included in cost-share programs that provide funding and/or technical assistance for implementation of new practices -- e.g., cover crops, conservation tillage, composting, mulching. There are also numerous rebates and incentives available for energy efficient equipment and practices. For more details on specific cost-share opportunities see the Implementation Guides for each topic area listed above or in Step 3: Implement. Carbon Footprint Study Anchor 1

STEP 2: ASSESS & PLAN Assess Run the Climate Smart Report to Assess and Plan Review Vineyard Adaptation Practices to Address Climate Impacts Use Carbon Footprint Hotspots to Prioritize Climate Smart Practices Consider Climate Risks for Your Operation Plan Climate Action Plan Examples of Climate Action Goals Assessing Where You Are Now How to Assess & Plan for Climate Action Once you establish why climate action is important to the sustainability of your operation, it is time to assess your current climate smart practices to help you plan where to go from here. This section of the toolkit includes several ways to assess your operation and results in the start of a personalized Climate Action Plan that serves as the foundation of your climate action strategy. The Climate Action Plan Worksheet guides you through the following areas for assessment and planning: Looking at specific vineyard and winery climate smart practices, Using industry hotspots or your own hotspots that are identified through a GHG inventory to help prioritize practices, Reviewing potential climate action goals to help align and guide the implementation of practices. Run the Climate Smart Report to Assess and Plan Climate Smart Practices and Sustainable Winegrowing For those familiar with the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing and Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW), many of the climate smart practices found throughout this toolkit will look familiar. In fact, anyone who participates in a California sustainable winegrowing program, including LODI RULES, SIP Certified, Napa Green and other sustainability programs will also see many similarities with practices that they assess and certify. Likewise, numerous soil health practices included in organic, biodynamic and regenerative certifications are included in this toolkit. Many of the best practices already in use by the industry can help reduce the carbon footprint of a vineyard, winery and/or wine and can help vineyards and wineries adapt to climate impacts. Climate Smart Report in the CSWA Online System The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) Climate Smart Report is a customized report that summarizes the climate beneficial practices included in the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing (4th Edition). The report can be generated in the CSWA Online System after the completion of a vineyard or winery self-assessment. The report highlights the 71 climate smart practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration and/or help vineyards and wineries adapt to climate impacts while providing a roadmap to improve climate smart practices. The report also includes 30 climate smart hotspots, which are priority practices that make the biggest impact, as identified in the study, “California Wine’s Carbon Footprint,” and/or considered important climate smart practices by multiple experts. You can use the report to see how your current practices align with your climate action goals and get ideas for potential improvement steps. The report includes implementation guides for each of the practices to provide specific guidance for practice adoption. Any California grower or vintner has free access to the CSWA Online System and can complete the climate smart self-assessment criteria and run the report. There is an option within the Online System to complete only the climate smart self-assessment, which is useful for people using this toolkit who participate in other sustainable winegrowing certification programs. Climate Smart Practices Resources: Generate Your Personalized Climate Smart Report Sign up or login to the CSWA Online System , complete a self-assessment of your vineyard and/or winery and generate your personalized report by clicking “Climate Smart Report” in the Report menu. There is also an option to only complete the climate smart self-assessment criteria (e.g., 42 of the 144 vineyard criteria or 43 of the 105 winery criteria) by selecting “Climate Smart” in the chapter list within the online system. Climate Smart Winegrowing: A Roadmap to Address Climate Challenges and Build Resiliency A companion handout to the CSWA Climate Smart Report that summarizes the 71 climate smart practices included in the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing (4th Edition). Climate Action Plan Worksheet Add results to your climate action plan worksheet once you run the CSWA Climate Smart Report (or reviewed relevant climate smart practices if you participate in another sustainability program). You can add the list of practices from the report to the Climate Smart Practices page in the Excel version of the worksheet. Back to Top Review Vineyard Adaptation Practices to Address Climate Impacts Despite the challenges posed by climate change, ample opportunity for adaptation and mitigation exists. A recent literature review conducted by the California Climate Hub synthesized the key climate change impacts that will affect California vineyards. These impacts include increased drought and limited water availability, excess rainfall, extreme heat, increased frost, pest and disease pressure, changing seasonality and increased wildfire and smoke. Climate smart practices can help adapt to these current and expected changes and are detailed in both a summary handout of the key findings and the full literature review paper below. Summary Handout: Managing California’s Vineyards for Resilience: Strategies for a Changing Climate Five strategies for adaptation and mitigation are summarized in this document , which are drawn from the research paper below that synthesizes the literature on the science-backed actions for viticultural response to climate change. Research Paper: Managing California’s Vineyards for a Changing Climate: Science-backed Actions for Adaptation and Mitigation A research paper that provides a curated synthesis of literature on the science-backed actions for viticultural response to climate change across disparate subdisciplines to provide a whole system resource to aid decision support for producers and technical service providers. The below table summarizes the effectiveness of practices in adapting the vineyard to and mitigating climate change and which climate impacts each is best at addressing. Use the information in the summary handout and table when creating your climate action plan and prioritizing the climate impacts you want to address. Managing for Resilience Back to Top Hot Spots & Carbon Use Carbon Footprint Hotspots to Prioritize Climate Smart Practices Hotspots are the areas with the most opportunity for improvement identified in a carbon footprint assessment. By understanding industry hotspots, or better yet, your specific operation’s hotspots, you will be able to prioritize and implement practices that make the most impact to reduce GHG emissions. A carbon footprint assessment of the California wine industry was conducted in 2011 to understand the specific areas within the winegrape growing and winemaking processes that significantly contribute to GHG emissions. The results are representative of an individual vineyard and winery, even though they show an industrywide perspective on GHG emissions. A carbon footprint literature review was conducted in 2023 and found that the relative importance of emissions from various vineyard and winery activities in the 2011 assessment are largely still accurate and in the range of more recent studies. Results from the carbon footprint study identify the major hotspots (improvement opportunities) for the California wine supply chain. To view more details of the results, see the figure below or read the California Wine’s Carbon Footprint: Study objectives, results and recommendations for continuous improvement . Vineyard Carbon Footprint: The net balance of greenhouse gas emissions produced by a vineyard operation’s activities and the carbon sequestered in soil and vegetation. Vineyard activities include grape cultivation, equipment use, irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application, harvesting, etc. Winery Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by a winery operation’s activities, including wine production, packaging, distribution, etc. Major Hotspots for California Vineyards and Wineries: Vineyard Field Emissions Optimize nitrogen management plan Vineyard and Winery Energy Conduct an energy audit of the vineyard and/or winery Implement energy efficiency measures Install on-site renewable energy options Packaging Lightweight glass bottles Switch to alternative packaging designs (e.g., bag-in-the box, wine kegs, plastic bottles) Distribution Optimize distribution network Increase percentage of rail transport Switch to a low-emissions fleet Discuss carbon footprint reduction options with your distribution partner(s) Options for Assessing Hotspots: While new tools and companies are launching at a rapid rate to help companies assess their hotspots, we outline four options for evaluating hotspots for your operation below. Use Industry Hotspots from the California Wine Carbon Footprint Study As noted above, because the results are expected to be representative of individual vineyards and wineries, you can assume your own carbon footprint assessment would show similar results. You can therefore use the industry hotspots as a starting point to help prioritize your own climate smart practices. For instance, since packaging is a major hotspot for wineries, you can prioritize practices to evaluate and address your packaging considerations; or since vineyard energy is a major hotspot for vineyards, you can prioritize practices that will address energy use and renewable energy. (See above for more details or to read the study's report ). Calculate Relevant Metrics Using the CSWA Metrics Calculator If you want a better understanding of your operation’s specific footprint, you can use the CSWA Metrics Calculator to calculate several key components of a full carbon footprint assessment. The Metrics Calculator includes nitrogen and energy use metrics for vineyards and energy and greenhouse gases related to energy, refrigerants, packaging and transportation metric for wineries. Though not a complete carbon footprint assessment, you can still compare your results against the industry footprint, and track your own metrics over time to see how they change as you implement additional climate smart practices. Visit the CSWA Online System and navigate to the Metrics Center to get started. Click on the “Take a Tour” button on the top of the page for instructions on how to use the metrics calculator. Complete a GHG Inventory Using the International Wineries for Climate Action GHG Emissions Calculator International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) is a collaborative working group of wineries acting together to reduce carbon emissions and decarbonize the global wine industry. IWCA offers a free excel-based calculator that can be used to complete a full GHG inventory of a winery and vineyard operation. Completing a full GHG inventory is the best way to understand your improvement opportunities and to set a baseline that can be used to measure future improvement. IWCA also began offering a simplified version of the calculator for small wineries in 2024. Visit the IWCA website for more details and to download the calculator . Use a Commercial Software Option to Complete a GHG Inventory Many commercial software options, with some designed specifically for the wine industry, are available to complete a full GHG inventory. These options provide helpful features, such as more functionality (allow teams to add information about specific locations, better analysis of results, etc.) but they can be costly (anywhere from $5K/year up to $50K/year or more). To learn about various options, see this guide developed for the Australian wine industry which includes calculators that can be used by California vineyards and wineries: Carbon accounting tools for the Australian grape and wine sector . Consider Climate Risks for Your Operation Understanding your climate risks is also important when prioritizing implementation of climate smart practices. There are many factors about your operation that will determine which risks you need to be aware of and manage, such as your location, overall size of your company, the markets where you sell your wine, etc. Below are some examples of climate risk to evaluate for your operation. California is expected to continue to adopt new laws and regulations to address climate change and, while CSWA will be updating the toolkit periodically, it is recommended that you regularly consult resources to stay up to date on the most current requirements. Compliance/Regulatory Risk California has a number of climate change-related laws and regulations that are relevant for some vineyards and wineries. Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation Requires phase-in of Zero-Emission Vehicles for targeted fleets. Zero-Emission Forklift Regulation Requires phase-out of forklifts using large spark-ignition engines, such as those running on propane and gasoline. Transport Refrigeration Units Regulation Requires transition of diesel-powered truck TRUs to zero-emission. California’s Corporate Climate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) (currently delayed until July 2025) Any U.S. company with over $1 billion in annual revenue doing business in California must annually disclose their GHG emissions from Scope 1, 2 and 3 sources. It is estimated that the new requirements will indirectly impact wineries, with a few larger wineries needing to directly comply. California’s Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261) (c urrently delayed until July 2025) Requires any U.S. company with over $500 million in revenue doing business in California to report on climate-related risks they have identified and the efforts they are employing to mitigate them. It is estimated that the new requirements will indirectly impact wineries, with a few larger wineries needing to directly comply. Market Requirements Risks European Union Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): A climate disclosure mandate requiring companies to assess and report on risks. Climate Risk Assessment Back to Top Back to Top Climate Action Plan Climate Action Plan Complete the Climate Action Plan Worksheet The Climate Action Plan Worksheet will help you create a strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation, identify where to focus time and resources and a plan for implementation. As you make your way through the toolkit, you can simultaneously complete sections of the worksheet. The worksheet includes a checklist that you can use to track your progress through the toolkit and provides guidance on what information to add to the worksheet. There are two versions available — a comprehensive, in-depth Excel version that captures details for implementation and a simple, Word version that is a great place to start to create your plan. Climate Action Plan Worksheet (Excel File: comprehensive version) Climate Action Plan Worksheet (Word File: simple version) Examples of Climate Action Goals Setting Climate Action Goals Helps Prioritize Practices As you work through this toolkit, many different areas for mitigation and adaptation will be identified. As with any strategic planning process, setting goals and aligning actions to reach those goals helps to prioritize implementation and better manage time and resources. Example Climate Action Goals for Vineyards & Wineries Below is a list of example goals to consider for your operation along with examples of related actions/practices and resulting outcomes. These example goals can also be found in the Excel-based Climate Action Worksheet , which can be used as a starting point to personalize for your own operation. Examples Climate Action Goals Back to Top Back to Top GO TO STEP 3 - IMPLEMENT

IMPLEMENT: DROUGHT RESILIENCY & IRRIGATION Building Resiliency to Uncertain Water Availability Reduced water availability will be one of the most significant climate change challenges faced by California vineyards. The increased variability of seasonal precipitation, lower snowpack and more frequent and intense heatwaves increase the risk for drought and may result in unreliable surface water availability. Warmer temperatures and more extreme heat days will increase water demand, which in some regions may be exacerbated by decreased winter precipitation which is necessary for soil moisture recharge. Adopting water conservation practices and creating dynamic irrigation systems can help manage for unreliable water availability. Priority Practices Quick Links: Reducing Water Demand Optimizing Irrigation Reducing Water Demand Water conservation can be achieved by reducing water demand and/or reducing water application. By increasing soil health, choosing rootstocks or scions with higher water use efficiencies, or managing grapevine canopies with water use in mind, overall water demand can be reduced. In some regions in California, winegrapes can be dry farmed, where no irrigation is used after vines are established, when specific winegrowing techniques are used. Improve soil health to increase soil water holding capacity, through: Reduced tillage Planting cover crops and hedgerows Adding amendments to soil to reduce water evaporation (compost, biochar, mulch around the vines). Avoid soil compaction with machinery which diminishes soil tilth and holding capacity resulting in excessive run off. Water Conservation Impacts of Drought on Winegrapes Drought can prevent a grower from meeting the crop’s water demands, leading to water stress on the vines. Water stress can: Slow plant development Reduce nutrient uptake Decrease crop yield Decrease soil moisture which increases soil temperatures In extreme cases, kill the crop Optimizing Irrigation Irrigation is an important tool to maintain healthy grapevines during extreme heat and drought. When irrigation water is limited or scarce, increasing your irrigation efficiency so your plants have water when you need it most will mitigate the water stress caused by climate change. Many cutting-edge and emerging technologies aim to assist growers in using a data-driven precision irrigation approach to support water conservation while maintaining grape yield and quality despite fluctuations in water availability. Growers benefit from adopting technologies that provide site-specific information on evapotranspiration the grower can adjust based on field experience. The practice of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) can help reduce water application. Use soil moisture probes and pressure bombs to sense soil moisture and plant stress for effective regulated deficit irrigation. Maintain irrigation systems for optimum performance and distribution uniformity by conducting distribution uniformity tests. Use flow meters to monitor irrigation rates and estimates of field-scale ET via surface renewal and remote sensing. Utilize deficit irrigation strategies to balance production goals with available water resources during drought. Irrigation Efficiency Water Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Vineyard water use can also impact GHG emissions and carbon sequestration. Wet soils harbor increased microbial activity resulting in N2 0 production, and wet and warm soils can increase CO2 emissions through increased microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter. Emissions can be offset by storing carbon in vine tissue, which is especially effective if the vines live for a long time. Ultimately, climate smart water management practices can conserve water and enhance winegrape quality while mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Implementation Guides: Soil Health & Carbon Sequestration Implementation Guide : The guide includes practices and resources for improving soil health (e.g., increasing organic matter, cover crops) to increase soil water holding capacity. Vineyard Water Use Efficiency Implementation Guide : The guide includes practices and resources for maximizing water use efficiency, regulated deficit irrigation, and optimizing irrigation systems.

IMPLEMENT: WINERY PACKAGING Packaging’s High Carbon Footprint Wine is fundamentally a packaged product, with glass bottles serving as the iconic and traditional packaging choice. While glass remains dominant, it's important to recognize that alternative packaging types offer significant value and diverse benefits. Throughout the lifecycle from production to disposal, wine packaging contributes substantially to California wine's carbon footprint , accounting for approximately 38% of the total environmental impact. Each stage of the packaging process—from raw material extraction to final disposal—creates environmental stress through energy consumption, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. The wine industry has committed to improving packaging sustainability through multiple approaches. This includes collaborating with vendors to reduce carbon footprints and partnering with municipalities to enhance recycling processes. Priority Practices Quick Links: Lightweight Bottles & Alternative Packaging Evaluate Packaging Needs Sustainable Packaging Solutions: Lightweight Bottles & Alternative Packaging As global sustainability leaders, many California wine producers are actively evaluating methods to reduce their packaging impact, exploring strategies such as lightweight bottles and alternative packaging solutions (e.g., aluminum cans, bag-in-the box, wine kegs) and choosing products made with recycled content that can be recycled after use. Benefits of Lightweight Bottles: Weight: Lightweight glass bottles require less energy to manufacture, transport, and recycle, which reduces the carbon footprint of wine. Lightweighting can reduce a winery’s carbon footprint by 10-22% and lead to significant cost savings in the long run. Cost: Lightweight bottles cost less than heavy bottles to produce and are more economical to transport since they weigh less and take up less space on pallets. Recycling: Under current guidelines in California, wine bottles must be made from at least 35% post-consumer glass content, though many have higher recycled content. Lightweight bottles are easier for recycling facilities to handle, sort, and process. They also require less energy to melt down and reshape. Strength and durability: Lightweight glass has been shown to be just as strong and durable as traditional glass packaging due to innovations in manufacturing. Benefits of Aluminum Packaging: Weight: Aluminum cans weigh nearly half as much as glass bottles for the same volume of wine. This translates to lower shipping costs and CO2 emissions due to less weight for transport. Cost: Aluminum is cheaper than glass to manufacture and the lighter weight means shipping costs are also lower. Recycling: Cans are made from 70% or more recycled aluminum and are endlessly recyclable. Innovation: Slim cans, 4-packs and other innovative packaging such as aluminum wine bottles offer convenience (no corkscrew) and portability. The smaller portion size of cans appeals to moderation and new packaging options contribute to marketplace diversification. Lightweight Bottles Evaluate Packaging Needs Reducing packaging impact requires a nuanced approach, as there is no universal solution that works for all producers. Each winery must evaluate various factors to determine the packaging solution that best aligns with their specific business needs and sustainability goals. When determining the best packaging type for your product, consider the following factors: Material (e.g., cost-effectiveness, end-user convenience) Recyclability Energy Use & Carbon Footprint Waste Generation Transportation Efficiency (e.g., weight, durability) Consumer Perceptions and Market Demand Packagin Needs Resources: Sustainable Packaging Factsheet : Provides information on packaging factors to consider and a decision matrix for alternative packaging types. Innovations in Sustainable Packaging: Three Case Studies of Alternative and Lightweight Packaging : Shares examples from wineries who have implemented sustainable packaging changes. Unpacking Wine: A Practical Journey Through the Environmental Landscape of Packaging : An in-depth guide developed by the Porto Protocol with practical, actionable steps for making packaging decisions that reduce the environmental footprint of packaging. Trade Research on Climate Beneficial Attributes of Wine : Results from a 2023 trade research study that includes packaging considerations and trade perceptions of lightweight bottles.

Welcome to the California Vineyard & Winery Climate Action Toolkit! The impacts of climate change are already being felt throughout California's wine industry and beyond. This toolkit is designed for California vineyards and wineries to better understand and address the impacts of climate change. By using the toolkit, you can create a climate action plan, which will identify and prioritize climate smart practices, include guidance on implementation, and ultimately build resiliency to thrive in a changing climate. The toolkit supports winegrowers who are at different starting points in addressing climate change: those just beginning to understand the impacts of climate change on their business, those with climate action strategies in place, and all of those in between. Please visit the “How to Use ” page to determine the best place in the toolkit to begin. What is Climate Action for Vineyards & Wineries? Climate action involves implementing practices, such as those shown below, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon and prepare for the impacts of climate change. In addition to integrating climate smart strategies throughout your business, climate action can also include raising awareness within your organization and with customers and suppliers. Toolkit Development This toolkit was developed as part of a climate smart grant project and is a living resource that will be updated over time. CSWA would like to thank the many project partners and participants on the Climate Action Advisory Group who dedicated their time and expertise to ensure the toolkit includes the latest best practices and reflects the current science around climate change. View the list of advisors here .

HOW TO USE The toolkit is organized into three steps that you can use in a linear or non-linear way, depending on your starting point and organizational goals. STEP 1 - LEARN STEP 2 - ASSESS & PLAN STEP 3 - IMPLEMENT Learn why climate action is essential to navigate the current and expected impacts of climate change. Identify and prioritize climate smart practices to include in your Climate Action Plan. Get information about climate smart practices, link to resources and tips on implementation. Getting Started Below are some suggestions for using the toolkit based on where you are starting from and your goals. New to Climate Action: If you are just beginning to better understand how climate change will impact your vineyard and/or winery, we suggest you work through the three toolkit steps in order: Learn, Assess & Plan, and Implement. Once you complete the steps, you will have a written Climate Action Plan that summarizes your goals and prioritizes practices for implementation. Create a Climate Action Plan: If you understand why climate action is needed, you can jump straight to Step 2: Assess & Plan to begin creating your Climate Action Plan and prioritizing climate smart practices for implementation. Browse through the Implement step to find resources about specific practices that help mitigate and adapt to climate change. Support an Existing Climate Strategy: If you manage an existing climate strategy and already have a climate action plan for your vineyard and/or winery, the Implement step provides helpful information on practices that are likely already in your strategy. However, reviewing the Learn and Assess & Plan sections may be valuable, as there may be new information to integrate into your strategy or share with others in your organization for educational purposes. Download the Climate Action Worksheet Regardless of where you start, completing the Climate Action Plan Worksheet as you make your way through the toolkit will help you create a strategy and implementation plan, focus time and resources, and provide a place to record insights. There are two versions available – a comprehensive, in-depth Excel version or a simple, high-level Word version. Excel Word Video: How to Use the Toolkit Watch this video to learn how to work through the toolkit steps to develop your personalized Climate Action Plan and strategy.

IMPLEMENT: SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING & SUPPLIERS Supply Chains are a Significant Portion of Wine’s Carbon Footprint A significant part of any product’s carbon footprint, including wine, is attributed to the supply chain. Estimates vary, but anywhere from 50-80% of a wine’s carbon footprint comes from the supply chain. Therefore, addressing sustainability within the supply chain through procurement decisions and engaging with suppliers (along with optimizing transportation) is an important part of any climate action plan. Sustainable Purchasing Practices Can Reduce Wine’s Carbon Footprint Traditional procurement approaches often prioritize cost and efficiency over environmental and social considerations. Making procurement decisions with sustainability in mind means that environmental and social factors are also considered along with economic factors, which can reduce the carbon footprint of purchased products. Implementing sustainable purchasing practices can be accomplished in several steps: Set clear sustainability criteria : Sustainability requirements for products or services can be informal or included in a sustainable purchasing policy. The criteria can specify sustainability requirements such as use of recycled materials, energy efficient products, local sourcing, etc. Evaluate products and services : Evaluate your suppliers and their products based on your sustainability criteria and prioritize suppliers that align with your sustainability goals. Engage suppliers for information and to improve practices: Seek information from suppliers about their products if not readily available and collaborate with suppliers that are also interested in improving the sustainability of their practices and products. Vineyard & Winery Supply Chains - Scope 3 Emission Sources The GHGs attributed to Scope 3 (indirect emissions from the supply chain) encompass any activity not under direct responsibility of the vineyard or winery operation. These include activities such as: Purchased products (e.g., purchased grapes, winery equipment, vineyard inputs) Packaging materials (e.g., bottles, labels, closures, capsules, boxes) Outsourced transportation (e.g., delivery of purchased grapes, distribution of wine) Outsourced production (e.g., third-party harvest, bottling) Business travel (e.g., daily commutes, meetings, sales travel) Offsite waste management (e.g., landfill, recycling, composting) Post-consumption (e.g., disposal of wine containers) Collaborating with Supply Partners Can Drive Climate Action By actively collaborating with suppliers and emphasizing sustainable procurement practices, organizations can motivate their supply partners to minimize their environmental footprint. This approach can create ripple effects that extend far beyond your organization, promoting broader environmental and social responsibility across the entire industry. You can implement these sustainability strategies with both existing suppliers and when evaluating potential new supply partners. Resources: Sustainable Purchasing Implementation Guide : Details sustainable purchasing considerations and provides resources for creating a sustainable purchasing plan, engaging with suppliers, packaging and machinery. Supplier Questionnaire : Provides example questions for suppliers to assist with the screening process for products and services. Sustainable Purchasing Policy Template : Provides guidance for a sustainable procurement policy and includes a checklist for sustainable procurement and other useful resources.

IMPLEMENT: WINERY ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLES Energy Use in Wineries The primary source of greenhouse gas emissions from winery operations stems from using electricity, diesel, and other fossil fuels to power facilities, machinery and vehicles. The main energy uses in a winery include refrigeration, lighting, pumps/motors, air compressors, water treatment, filtration, heating, vehicles and HVAC for occupied spaces. By reducing fuel and electricity usage in these systems and equipment, a winery can reduce its carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change. Reducing energy consumption also reduces energy costs which benefits the bottom line while conserving natural resources. Priority Practices Quick Links: Conduct an Energy Audit Optimize Energy Efficiency Electrify Equipement Power with Renewable Energy The Goal of Decarbonization One of the main objectives of climate action is decarbonization (using carbon-free renewable energy sources for all energy needs). To achieve decarbonization, first overall energy use must be reduced and optimized, then wherever possible equipment should be powered with electricity and finally, the sources of electricity should come from renewable energy such as solar and wind. Technology advances are still needed to efficiently electrify all winery equipment, such as hot water systems which are typically powered by fuel, however, there are many steps outlined below that can move your winery operation closer to decarbonization. 1. Conduct an Energy Audit Before installing a renewable energy system or implementing energy efficiency measures, an energy audit should be conducted. The intent of an energy audit is to assess energy-consuming processes and equipment to compile a list of potential changes in behavior or technology that can reduce overall energy consumption. This can result in immediate cost savings for any winery and provide more insight into production operations. Once energy consumption is minimized, then renewable energy options can be explored that will meet the winery’s energy needs, which can prevent added costs from installing renewable energy systems that provide more energy than needed. Use the following resource to assess your energy related practices, conduct an equipment inventory, prioritize potential efficiency opportunities and develop an energy management plan. Conduct an energy audit Resource: DIY Winery Energy Audit Tool : This do-it-yourself tool can be used internally by winery staff to assess energy-consuming processes and equipment and identify improvement opportunities. The tool is provided as an Excel document (which allows for automatic calculations and customized energy use charts) or a Word document and is accompanied by a tutorial video. 2. Optimize Energy Efficiency Once you have completed an energy audit, you can prioritize potential opportunities for efficiency. Since refrigeration is one of the largest sources of energy use in a vineyard, looking for opportunities to improve efficiency of your refrigeration system is a great place to start. The following list covers the main areas of energy used in a winery and are covered in detail in the DIY Winery Energy Audit Tool. Add relevant practices to your Climate Action Plan Worksheet to help track practices and create timelines for implementation, such as when equipment is due for an upgrade or maintenance. You can also run the CSWA Climate Smart Report to easily identify which energy efficiency practices are already implemented and where there are improvement opportunities. Refrigeration: Accounts for approximately 30% of electric energy use for an average winery. Buildings and Tanks: While neither the building or tanks use energy directly, their design and operation directly impacts the performance of mechanical systems. Lighting: Optimizing winery lighting reduces energy use, improves productivity and increases worker safety. Boilers and Hot Water: Hot water is often responsible for much of a winery’s gas usage. Air Compressors: Provide air used for specialized pumps and running bottling equipment. Pumps/Motors: High efficiency motors, variable frequency drives and automated controls can all be used to only pump and move the equipment/liquid volume needed. Water Treatment: Treating process water is an important part of operating a winery for any location not connected to a city source and can account for a significant portion of total site electricity use. HVAC: Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) refers to energy used to control the air temperature of indoor spaces such as office space, barrel rooms, bottling lines, tasting rooms, case good warehouses, etc. Vehicles: Both onsite (forklifts, trucks, ATVs, etc.) and off-site vehicles (trucks, sales fleet, etc.) that are directly owned or operated by the winery. Filtration: Winery filtration equipment varies based on the winery but can have a noticeable impact on facility energy use. Optimize Energy Efficiency 3. Electrify Equipment As noted above, a large source of a winery’s carbon footprint is from the combustion of fossil fuels to operate winery equipment and systems. To decarbonize equipment, the equipment needs to be powered with electricity that can be sourced from renewable energy. As of June 2024, zero-emission electric forklifts are included in a California regulation designed to phase-out fuel powered forklifts to help California meet its climate goals through zero-emission technology. Electrify Equipment 4. Power with Renewable Energy Many wineries install solar panels as part of their renewable energy strategies, with a growing number adding batteries for storage. Installing solar photovoltaic panels can be a great investment, especially as electricity costs continually increase. As of February 2025, the Federal Government offers a Tax Credit of up to 30% for zero-emissions energy projects. There are more options for incorporating renewable energy into your operations than rooftop solar panels. You can also explore floating solar panels on irrigation ponds and above parking lots, which has an added benefit of providing shade. Power with Renewable Energy Resources: Winery Energy Efficiency & Renewables - Implementation Guide : The guide outlines key practices and resources to support implementation of an energy audit, energy efficiency measures for winery equipment and lighting, and renewable energy, along with cost-share, rebate and incentive opportunities to help finance energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy.

STEP 1: LEARN Why Climate Action is Needed: The Case for Climate Action The Case for Mitigation: Why Cutting Emissions is Essential California Wine Climate Action Progress What Climate Action Means for Vineyards & Wineries: Climate Smart Practices Help Mitigation and Adaptation Climate Smart Practices for Vineyards & Wineries Major Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Vineyards and Wineries Carbon Emissions Scopes Carbon Footprints and Hotspots The Case for Climate Action We are experiencing direct impacts of climate change now. The climate impacts facing the wine industry are broad and include: drought and limited water availability excess rainfall extreme heat frost pest and disease pressure changing seasonality wildfire and smoke climate change-related regulatory and market requirements Already the California wine community is dealing with more frequent and intense heatwaves and greater year-to-year variability in rainfall, increasing the risk for both flooding and drought, and changes in wildfire dynamics. Scientists expect that these impacts will continue to increase and affirm that climate change poses significant threats to California agriculture. Climate-driven changes in environmental conditions will also increase pest and disease pressure and create changes in seasonality, which can have profound effects on winegrapes that can vary by location and grape variety. In addition, wineries must contend with power shut offs, increased power needs due to extreme heat, increased regulatory requirements related to climate change and marketplace demands from retailers and other customers with climate goals. While the list of impacts can seem overwhelming, fortunately, for decades California growers and vintners have used sustainable practices and approaches that are “climate smart”. Climate smart refers to practices that help manage a vineyard or winery’s climate challenges and risks, mitigate climate change impacts (through carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions), and build resiliency to current and future climate impacts.With greater awareness on increasing adoption of specific climate smart practices, vineyards and wineries can improve their resiliency and take part in climate change solutions. The Case for Mitigation: Why Cutting Emissions is Essential Scientists agree that we need to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst impacts from climate change. Unfortunately, in 2025 we are already near the cusp of surpassing this benchmark, if not already past it. The goal is still relevant because it is broadly understood; used by businesses, governments and organizations worldwide; and still represents the most aligned pathway for climate change mitigation. Governments globally are increasingly implementing climate policies to reduce GHG emissions, and California has played a leading role in climate and energy policy. In 2022, California released the world’s first plan for a jurisdiction to achieve net zero carbon pollution, which would drastically cut emissions and accelerate transition to clean energy. (Net zero refers to a state when GHGs going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere and is an internationally recognized goal for mitigating global warming). Since the California wine industry operates in a state with a regulatory framework that includes ambitious climate change goals, it will require California businesses to make changes now and in the future. In addition, many U.S. and international wine retailers have climate goals aligned with 1.5°C and net zero. International alignment on climate action will continue to adapt in response to the reality of our progress, but retailers and other customers will continue to pursue climate goals, putting pressure on their supply chain partners, including wineries, to reduce their emissions in line with climate science and/or to report on their GHG emissions. California Wine Climate Action Progress Within the California wine industry, many steps have already been taken to better understand, measure and improve the industry’s carbon footprint including climate smart practices and metrics tracking in sustainability programs and certifications. With over two decades of working together on a common sustainable winegrowing goal, the California wine community has demonstrated that collaboration is effective and leads to positive outcomes. By conducting a Carbon Footprint Assessment of California wine and working with international partners via FIVS (an international trade association for all sectors of the alcohol beverage industry) to develop an International Wine Greenhouse Gas Protocol we have a clear sense of the priority practices for implementation, education and outreach. Additionally, many wineries are taking individual action, participating in sustainability programs that promote climate beneficial practices, or joining groups such as the International Wineries for Climate Action . While California wine is leading the way in terms of sustainable winegrowing, we need to do more — individually and together — to advance climate action. Climate Smart Practices Help Mitigation and Adaptation There are two primary types of action to address climate change — mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation refers to practices that help limit the impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (decarbonization) and removing atmospheric carbon in a highly permanent manner (e.g., sequestering carbon in soil and woody plant material). Decarbonization is the primary goal of mitigation efforts, and mainly focuses on switching the source of energy from fossil fuels, such as natural gas and oil, to carbon-free renewable energy sources. It includes reducing overall energy use first, primarily through energy efficiency measures, electrifying equipment, and powering with renewable energy such as solar and wind. Adaptation refers to practices that help adjust to current and future effects of climate change or take advantage of opportunities presented by climate change. Adaptation helps operations be more resilient to climate change impacts and understand and manage risks from societal responses to climate change (e.g., regulatory or labor practice changes.) Climate Smart Practices for Vineyards & Wineries Practices that either help mitigate or adapt to climate change are commonly referred to as “climate smart.” The diagram below provides examples of mitigation and adaptation practices. As you can see, many climate smart winegrowing practices help with both mitigation and adaptation. The Case for Climate Action Climate Acton Progress Climate Smart Practices Help Mitigation Adaptation The Case for Mitigation Climate Smart Pratices for Vineyard & Wineries Major Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Vineyards and Wineries GHG emissions are gases that trap the sun’s heat and cause the greenhouse effect, which leads to global climate change. One of the largest sources of GHG emissions for vineyards and wineries is carbon dioxide (CO2 ) from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation. The main GHG produced by viticulture is nitrous oxide (N2 O). The importance of N2 O comes from its strong ability to act as a GHG. N2 O is roughly 300 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, so a small amount of N2 O can cause as much global warming as a very large amount of CO2 . When nitrogen is added to soil, some of the applied nitrogen can be converted to N2 O by soil microbes. This can happen to any nitrogen-containing additive including synthetic fertilizers (e.g., nitrate and ammonium) and organic materials (e.g., green manures and pomace). CO2 is also generated in vineyards through intense tilling. Besides being a source of GHGs, agricultural systems can help offset emissions by the capture and long-term storage of carbon in vegetative structures and soils. This process is referred to as carbon sequestration or a carbon sink. For wineries, the main GHG is CO2 which is attributed primarily to purchased energy, which includes electricity, diesel, and other fossil fuels. In addition to energy needed for wine production and transportation, the production of packaging materials such as glass bottles and corrugated boxes require a lot of energy and result in CO2 emissions. Evaporative losses of refrigerants are also important sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The gases emitted from refrigeration systems are similar to N2 O as they are more effective than CO2 at trapping heat, which gives them a higher global warming potential (GWP), which is typically thousands of times greater than CO2 .  Carbon Emissions Scopes Companies’ greenhouse gas emissions are classified into three scopes. Scope 1 refers to direct emissions from activities under the company’s control such as production and company vehicles. Scope 2 refers to all purchased electricity. Scope 3 refers to indirect emissions from the supply chain. The International Wineries for Climate Action provides a useful graphic below that outlines the scopes for vineyards and wineries. Major Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Vineyards and Wineries Carbon Emissions Scopes Above Graphic: International Wineries for Climate Action (2021), Overview of Greenhouse Gas Emissions across the Wine Value Chain . Carbon Footprints and Hotspots A carbon footprint assessment calculates the total amount of GHG produced by a product, such as wine (or an activity, individual or organization). In 2011, a carbon footprint assessment was conducted for a 9-liter case of wine produced in California and shipped within the United States. The study included the extraction and production of raw materials (e.g., fertilizer, diesel), grape cultivation, transportation of the grapes to wineries, winery operations, packaging, and, finally, distribution to warehouses and retail stores in the United States (truck and rail transport). The assessment identified hotspots, areas with the greatest opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint. A carbon footprint literature review was conducted in 2023 and found that the relative importance of emissions from various vineyard and winery activities in the 2011 assessment are largely still accurate and in the range of more recent studies. California growers and vintners can use the results of the study as a guide when considering opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint. Many opportunities for carbon footprint reduction will also lead to efficiencies in operations and reduced costs associated with raw material and energy purchases. Further, reduction of GHG emissions can help address regulatory and market pressures and mitigate business risk. Carbon Footprints and Hotspots GO TO STEP 2 - ASSESS & PLAN