Fetzer Vineyards Announces New ‘Outstanding’ Score of 130 for New B Corp, Further Strengthening Legacy of Goal-Driven Business Practices

Long-standing commitments to regenerative agriculture and climate-smart practices place Fetzer Vineyards in the top 5% of companies its size in the B Corp Environment category and the “Outstanding” category for B Corps worldwide

Posted: October 21, 2021 at 2:26 p.m. MDT|Update: 5 hours ago

HOPLAND, California, 21 October 2021 / PRNewswire / – Fetzer Vineyards, the largest B Corporation certified vineyard in United States and leader in regenerative viticulture, today announced an important milestone in the company’s long-standing commitment to responsible business practices: a new B Corp score of 130. This new score, which reflects a remarkable increase in 37% from the company’s previous score, places Fetzer Vineyards in the ‘Outstanding’ category for B Corps globally, an elite group of focused companies, verifiably recognized for using business as a strength for good.

Fetzer Vineyards demonstrated particularly remarkable growth in its B Corp Environment score during its B Corp recertification, building on performance last assessed in 2017. Thanks to organic and regenerative farming practices, climate-smart operations , resource conservation and more, a total of 75.4 environmental points ranks it in the top five percent for the environment for a company its size in the global B Corps.

Fetzer Vineyards has long been a goal-driven business, catalyzing change for good since its founding in 1968. It was the first recipient of the California Green Medal Leader Award (2015), which recognized the estate’s legacy in innovative commitments to sustainable practices and leadership. in the California wine industry. In 2017, Fetzer Vineyards was awarded at COP23 by the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat, which recognized the winery’s work towards a positive climate future with a Lighthouse “Momentum for Change” Climate Solutions Award, the only winery in the world to receive this honor.

Other leading achievements in using 100% green energy, zero waste certification and more followed, as well as early adoption by wineries of B Corp certification and best practices. Today, B Corps is widely recognized in all sectors for its transparency and accountability.

“For more than 50 years, we have been working continuously to improve our environmental and social impact,” said Giancarlo Bianchetti, CEO of Fetzer Vineyards. “In the wake of the declaration of a climate emergency last year, it is imperative to demonstrate progress towards our goal of accelerating our efforts to do better for people, communities and the planet. Our latest B Corp score reflects these efforts, and we will continue to advance our actions to continue this momentum.

To qualify for B Corp certification, a company must complete the rigorous B Impact Assessment (BIA) and achieve a minimum of 80 points on its 200 point scale. Anyone can take the BIA, and the average business scores around 50 points, well below the certification threshold. During the BIA, companies are rigorously assessed and measured in five areas: workers, community, governance, environment and customers.

Fetzer Vineyards first became a Certified B company in 2015, achieving an initial score of 80.2. The winery increased its impact efforts and its overall rating to 95.1 on its second review, in 2017. In the years that followed, Fetzer Vineyards continued to advance its efforts in a range of areas. intervention, with notable advances in worker benefits; political advocacy for social and environmental standards; ethical marketing; and climate-friendly business practices.

Today, there are over 4,000 B-certified companies in 77 countries and 153 industries, united by a common goal: to transform the global economy for the benefit of all, all communities and the planet.

“We are delighted to be a part of this incredible community and to capitalize on the progress made as we develop and execute ambitious and forward-thinking initiatives that will help us achieve our goal of positive climate operations by 2030” , said Jess baum, Director of Regenerative Development and Sustainability for Fetzer Vineyards. “The BIA gives us a great framework to ensure that we seek to improve ourselves in all areas of impact, and we are committed to deepening and doing better across our business as we move into our next chapter. . “

The launch of the new Fetzer Vineyards score follows a recent announcement by Viña Concha y Toro, the Chilean holding company of Fetzer Vineyards, which celebrated its own B Corp certification, as well as the certification of each of its not yet certified wineries. . These include imports from Fetzer Vineyards to the United States Concha y Toro, Viña South Cono and Bodega Trivento. For consumers, it also crucially means that every bottle of wine Fetzer Vineyards now makes or markets comes from a B Corp, making the entire company American wallet of wines from California, Chile and Argentina certified as good.

To learn more about B Corp certification and the impact work of Fetzer Vineyards, visit fetzervineyards.com/impact and follow @FetzerVineyards on LinkedIn for relevant updates.

ABOUT FETZER VINEYARDS
Fetzer Vineyards is an award-winning supplier of multi-origin wines and spirits, selling to over 50 countries around the world. Founded by Barney fetzer in Mendocino County, California, in 1968, and part of the global powerhouse Viña Concha y Toro, Fetzer Vineyards remains today driven by excellence, innovation and long-standing commitments to the environment and responsible business practices. With a focus on crafting wines made from sustainable, organic and biodynamic® grapes, Fetzer Vineyards is one of the top 12 US wine distributors, the leading national importer of wines from South America and United States’ largest B Corporation certified winery — a testament to the company’s commitment to the transformation goals of regenerative activities.

In addition to its flagship label Fetzer, the Fetzer Vineyards portfolio includes Bonterra Organic Vineyards, the Wine Enthusiast American Winery of the Year 2016; 1000 stories, California original Bourbon wine aged in barrels; Casillero del Diablo, Chile’s # 1 wine brand (750 ml) in the United States; and Trivento Reserve, No. 3 in Malbec sales in the United States. Chile, Argentina and the United States — features South American icons Don Melchor and Trivento Eolo Malbec, alongside the unique Bonterra vineyard, biodynamically grown wines and award-winning artisan whiskeys from Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Find out more: www.fetzervineyards.com

© 2021 Vignobles Fetzer, Mendocino County, California UNITED STATES.

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