Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall continue investing in, exploring, and adopting innovative sustainability
practices with each of their business entities. The Halls oversee a myriad of wine country
properties in Northern California, including HALL St. Helena, HALL Rutherford, and WALT Sonoma.
HALL and WALT wines include 500 planted acres in Napa County, Sonoma County, Santa Barbara
County and Mendocino County. HALL and WALT Wines hold numerous certifications and accolades including LEED Certifications, Napa Green, California Sustainable, California Certified Organic Farming, and more.
First winery in California to earn LEED Gold by USGBA, 2009
Only winery to earn two LEED Gold Certifications at the same property
2014 Napa Green Certification
Bergfeld Vineyard in St. Helena, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
Sacrashe Vineyard in Rutherford, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
T Bar T Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
Hardester Ranch Vineyard in Pope Valley, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
All of our vineyards incorporate cover crops to minimize erosion and return nitrogen to the soil
We have installed owl boxes in all of our Estate vineyards for natural rodent control
On our two winery properties, recycled processed wastewater is reused for vineyard irrigation
Monitoring
We use neutron probes (soil moisture readings) to monitor how much water is in
the soil at the root zone
We use stem water potentials (plant water stress readings) to monitor stress
within the vines
We have weather stations that provide us with evapotranspiration data which
allows us to estimate vine water usage
Flow meters are installed on all main irrigation lines to confirm that we are only
applying what is needed
Regular visual monitoring for stress and water needs
Conservation
We practice Regulated Deficit Irrigation – We are only irrigating what is needed, when it is needed to maximize quality and
minimize waste
We use drip irrigation
In some vineyards we have correlated vine stress mapping with our irrigation
infrastructure to allow us the ability to irrigate specific areas within a block
Certified as a Sustainable Winegrower, (CSWA)
Tesla charging stations
Fish Friendly Farming Standards
Best Management Practices (BMP) to ensure sustainable health and growth in vineyards
UV cleaning tanks
WALT Sustainability Efforts
WALT WINES – SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
Winemaking - Currently each WALT wine is made at the HALL St. Helena Winery – the first
LEED Certified winery in California.
Vineyards - In 2017, WALT Certified each of its Estate Vineyards:
The Corners Anderson Valley Estate Vineyard, Certified Sustainable:
California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA)
WALT WINERY IN SEBASTOPOL, CALIFORNIA (Planned for Completion: Spring 2019)
The new project is led by WALT General Manager, Jeff Zappelli.
Plans to be the first LEED Gold Winery in Sebastopol
Focus will be on reducing the amount of embodied energy when selecting building materials
Increased solar photovoltaic footprint
Electric car charging stations
The surrounding vineyard will be farmed organically and aims to be certified sustainable by
Sonoma County Winegrowers and California Sustainable programs
Plan aims to protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystems by keeping wetlands,
reducing hardscape, and promoting greenspace
The WALT Winery in Sebastopol will follow the emerging “Sponge City” concepts. “Sponge
City” is a program which encourages city planners to adopt greenspace that allow for natural
stormwater recharge in order to mitigate flooding, and reduce the heat island effect caused
by extensive concrete paving throughout development in urban areas.
