Sustainability at Rombauer: A Team Effort

Q: What is your role at Rombauer and how does it relate to sustainability?
I work with our growers and vineyard managers to ensure we’re using the most sustainable products and focusing on mechanical and cultivation techniques that reduce input needs.

Q: What are you most excited about right now in terms of sustainability?
Focusing on soil health — specifically, increasing potential fertility through reduced tillage.

Q: What do you think we don’t talk enough about?
Rombauer embraces very progressive views on vineyard management. Considering the many acres we farm, the focus on always making the “right” choice for vineyard health is a pleasant change of pace.

Q: Why does sustainability matter to you personally?
I truly believe in a holistic approach if we’re going to sustain our farmland for future generations. Without regenerative practices, the soil will produce less and less until it’s no longer viable. We only get one Earth, and I believe it’s our duty to protect and nourish it.

Q: What is your role at Rombauer and how does it relate to sustainability?
I identify and execute projects that improve operational efficiency, particularly around water and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Q: What are you most excited about right now?
We just bought a sludge press! It allows us to turn a liquid wastewater stream — currently trucked to Oakland — into reusable compost we can use locally. This removes about 100 trucks from the road each year and creates a valuable soil amendment.

Q: What don’t we talk enough about? What might surprise our customers?
Our Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc facility in Napa is one of the most efficient in the industry. All the electricity — powered in part by 500 kW of on-site solar — is 100% renewable. And we use only 2.5 gallons of water per gallon of wine produced.

Q: Why is sustainability important to you personally?
I love the outdoors and feel lucky to live in Northern California. But in the last decade, I’ve seen wildfires destroy my favorite trails, experienced dry winters in Tahoe, and dealt with heatwaves that kept me inside. I feel a responsibility to help protect the beauty of this place for the next generation.

Q: What is your role and how do you support sustainability?
I lead the tasting room team and handle many of our supply orders. I focus on sourcing biodegradable and sustainable products whenever possible. I also added recycling bins indoors to make sorting easier for our team.

Q: What excites you most about our sustainability efforts?
I’m amazed at the scope of what we do: solar power, fish-friendly farming, water usage practices…. It’s a lot more than people realize.

Q: What don’t we talk enough about?
Integrating sustainability into our guest conversations doesn’t always come naturally. I think that’s a big opportunity for staff training and storytelling.

Q: What drives your personal passion for sustainability?
Now more than ever, I think those of us who care need to “vote with our dollars.” It’s not enough to hope corporations will do the right thing. We need to support the ones that already are.

Q: What is your role and how do you support sustainability?
I work in retail sales and am also part of the garden and green teams. This position allows me to communicate our efforts with our guests.

Q: What excites you most about our sustainability efforts?
Our efforts in the vineyard and our commitment to solar power offset our electrical use. That and continually looking at ways to reduce our environmental impact.

Q: What don’t we talk enough about?
Our solar offset is impressive.

Q: What drives your personal passion for sustainability?
We should always be concerned about our environmental impact.

Sustainability Is a Shared Responsibility

At Rombauer, we believe that every decision — whether it’s reducing water use, composting grape waste, or simply choosing greener materials in the tasting room — contributes to a healthier planet and a better future. We’re proud to be part of the Napa Green community and to continue investing in responsible, regenerative practices.

Want to learn more about our sustainability journey? Visit our Sustainability Page