Mendocino Wine Becomes First Regenified Certified Wine Grape Grower

Mendocino Wine Co. said it has become the world's first wine grape grower to receive Tier 3 Regenified certification for its estate vineyards, La Ribera and Home Ranch.

Mendocino Wine has a history of environmental excellence, including being the first U.S. winery to attain carbon-neutral status and a three-time recipient of California's prestigious Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) for its unwavering dedication to environmentally responsible practices.

Now, the company's owner and General Manager, Chase Thornhill, is taking their commitment to environmental stewardship one step further by focusing on soil health.

Thornhill shared the company's philosophy, "We started by recognizing a simple truth - no plants, no life. There is a reason our planet is green. Life thrives through a complex collaboration between animals, insects, and microbes that exist both above and below the ground.

"Plants are the critical bridge between our terrestrial surface and our atmosphere. Untouched by humans, nature is the most efficient and beautiful system for creating an abundance of diverse life forms. It is perfection. We can never be as good as nature, but we can choose to emulate it instead of fighting it. You can't 'go green' without plants. Encouraging the growth of many plant species alongside our vines establishes the foundation for a thriving ecosystem, thereby improving the soil and, in turn, the grapes we grow."

The core tenets of regenerative farming are founded on imitating nature, that is – minimizing soil disturbance, encouraging plant diversity, keeping the soil covered, and integrating livestock where possible - these practices combat the decline of soil heath, improving it for future generations. Regenified, led by pioneers in regenerative ranching and farming, verifies and certifies regenerative practices using their proprietary 6-3-4™ Verification Standard, giving people confidence that products with this certification were grown using regenerative practices and principles to restore biodiversity, soil health, water quality, and nutrients, all while maintaining harmony with nature.