Napa Green Town Hall

Over snacks and wine, hear from Anna Brittain, Napa Green Executive Director, and the Napa Green team about recent program updates. There will be a panel with Ivo Jeramaz, Grgich Hills Estates, Ashley Anderson Bennett, Cain Vineyard & Winery, and Erik Dodd, Wight Vineyard Management, discussing herbicide-free farming, approaches, costs/benefits and ROI.

speakers

Anna Brittain | Executive Director at Napa Green 

Anna Brittain has worked locally, nationally and internationally on environmental management and policy. She has spent more than a decade working as a sustainability consultant with the wine industry, with an expertise in communications and certification standards. Anna has a Master’s of Environmental Science & Management from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara. Her mission is to spread the message that sustainability is sexy.

Ivo Jeramaz | Winemaker and Vice President of Vineyards & Production at Grgich Hills

In 1986, with the help of his uncle, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Ivo followed his dream and came to Napa Valley. He quickly fell in love with the scenic beauty of the area and became fascinated with wine making. Ivo decided on a career change and Mike immediately put him to work washing barrels. During his almost-three decades at Grgich Hills Ivo has worked his way up in responsibility, learning the classic style and art of winemaking from his uncle, supported by the tools of science and technology. “There’s nothing in the winery or vineyard that I haven’t done, not just for one day, but really worked at it.” 

 Ashley Anderson Bennett | Vineyard Manager at Cain Vineyard & Winery

At Cain Vineyard and Winery, Bennett oversees eighty-eight acres of hillside vineyards, including a year-round crew of nine. Together they plant, prune, manage weeds, pests, and vineyard canopy, and harvest the grapes—all while working closely with winemakers to achieve the desired fruit. Read more in  The Women Behind Some Of Napa And Sonoma’s Best Wines.

Erik Dodd | Vineyard Manager at Wight Vineyard Management

Erik Dodd has been a vineyard manager with Wight Vineyard Management for over 15 years and provides impeccable and sustainable farming services. Wight Vineyard Management farms over 500 vine acres in the Napa Valley and has deep roots through founder, Doug Wight: a 5th generation St. Helena native with family history that dates back to 1864. Erik also connects with the vines through Hayfork Wine Company, a wine brand co-created with his winemaker wife, Haley Wight.