Neal Family Vineyards becomes first Napa winery to gain Regenerative Organic Certification

Howell Mountain estate winery Neal Family Vineyards has gained Regenerative Organic Certification, representing the first Napa Valley vineyard and the fifth worldwide to achieve this status.

Biodynamic winegrower Mark Neal has achieved the certification for his Napa Valley estate, as recognised by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA). The ROA was founded by American outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia in 2018, along with organic soap company Dr. Bronner’s and a group of farmers and soil experts.

Before a company can apply to become Regenerative Organic Certified, they must first hold a National Organic Program certification. After that, they are asked to demonstrate soil health practices, such as no or minimal tillage, cover cropping and crop rotation; social fairness in the form of living wages and healthy working conditions for employees; and animal welfare with pasture-based grazing.

Neal first achieved organic certification in 1984, but said that “being the first in Napa Valley to achieve the Regenerative Organic Certified stamp of approval is still an exciting accomplishment for us because of what it stands for”.

He explained: “ROA was founded to address climate change, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, factory farming and fractured rural communities globally. Regenerative organic agriculture is a collection of practices that focus on regenerating soil health and the full farm ecosystem.

“This new certification goes farther than any other organic certification – including CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) – by requiring specific farming practices that build soil health, ensure fairness to farmers and farm workers, and improve animal welfare. We have always exclusively used organic and biodynamic practices in our vineyards, and this certification further cements that commitment to the land and our community.”

Argentinian wine producer and exporter Domaine Bousquet earned Regenerative Organic Certified status in June 2022, becoming the fourth company to do so, and the first outside of the US. Read more on that here.