350 planted acres in 15 estate vineyards | Some (but not all) of the wines from these brands are included: Cardinale, Freemark Abbey, Lokoya, La Jota, Mt. Brave, and Caladan. Napa becomes ROC leader.
A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT AND AN ROC UPDATE
Jackson took a step forward, under the direction of long time organic advocate Chris Carpenter, achieving Regenerative Organic Certified Status for its Napa Valley Estate Vineyards. Bravo.
However not all of the wines from each brand - Cardinale, Freemark Abbey, Lokoya, La Jota, Mt. Brave, and Caladan - are from ROC estate grapes. Hopefully the bottles will be labeled with the appropriate certifier logos to let consumers know what’s what.
A slight nit: Jackson’s claim to be the largest ROC grower in Napa is based on unplanted acreage, not planted vineyard acres. Grgich Hills has 365 planted ROC acres. (Boldings below are mine).
In 2024, Jackson announced it had 440 planted acres converted to organic certification, but in 2026 it is announcing that 360 planted acres are ROC (not 440).
Grgich Hills is certified at the silver level. Jackson has not yet disclosed the level it is certified for (i.e. gold, silver or bronze). Only two vineyards in the US are gold certified (Tablas Creek and Troon).
Other Napa wineries currently certified ROC silver include Spottswoode (estate wines only) and Neal Family Vineyards, with Stag's Leap Wine Cellars (Fay and SLV vineyards) certified at the bronze level. Others are in the process of ROC certification (Opus One, Matthiasson and more).
The Jackson announcement makes Napa the region with the most ROC certified vines.
PRESS RELEASE FROM JACKSON
Sep 22, 2026
NAPA VALLEY, Calif., [September 21, 2026]. With harvest underway, Jackson Family Wines announces that its Napa Valley estate vineyards have achieved Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) status, considered one of the most rigorous standards in agriculture. The certification covers approximately 663 acres across 15 estate vineyards, with 350 of those acres planted to vines. Jackson Family Wines now farms the largest Regenerative Organic Certified® vineyard acreage in Napa Valley, and its certification roughly doubles the valley’s total acreage under ROC™.
This milestone builds on Jackson Family Wines’ industry leadership in sustainable viticulture and follows the organic certification of these Napa Valley vineyards through CCOF in the fall of 2023. Regenerative Organic Certified adds independently audited standards on top of that organic foundation, across three pillars: soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness, which includes fair treatment and living wages for farmworkers. Jackson Family Wines began the ROC process in 2024, though it has farmed these mountain sites regeneratively for years, using practices that include no-till soil management, native cover crops, sheep and goats in place of mowers and tractors, integrated pest management, and precise water management. As with the estate’s organic certification, ROC applies to the vineyards, not to the winery or the finished wines. (Pam’s note: ROC does not certify products, only farming).
“As farmers it is our responsibility to maintain the health of the land we farm for the long term and to recognize the downstream effects we have on the Napa Valley community,” says Winemaker Christopher Carpenter. “Regenerative farming is the best methodology to not only achieve these two incredibly important maxims, but it has also enhanced wine quality beyond our expectations. We are thrilled to partner with ROC and help them lead this effort in Napa Valley and hope by our example other growers consider adopting these practices,” he added.
Since adopting regenerative methods, the estates have recorded a measurable rise in wine quality while holding production volumes steady, countering the assumption that regenerative farming means giving up yield or quality. Carpenter points to the practice of no-till farming as one of the biggest drivers for vineyard health: it improves the soil’s water-holding capacity and carbon sequestration, and it protects the fungal networks connecting vine root systems so they can continue to develop. The vines are now showing greater resilience in extreme conditions. These vineyards span the diversity of the company’s estates in Napa Valley, from valley-floor sites in Oakville and Rutherford to hillside and mountain estates on Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, and Diamond Mountain. They are the primary source for some of the company’s most sought-after wines, including Cardinale, Freemark Abbey, Lokoya, La Jota, Mt. Brave, and Caladan.
“Jackson Family Wines achieving Regenerative Organic Certified across its Napa Valley estate vineyards is a powerful demonstration of what leadership looks like at scale,” said Christopher Gergen, CEO of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. “By putting the health of the soil, the well-being of farmworkers, and the long-term resilience of these vineyards at the center of how they farm, Jackson Family Wines is helping set a new benchmark for the wine industry. We hope their commitment inspires more growers and wine producers in Napa Valley and beyond to see regenerative organic agriculture not simply as a set of practices, but as a pathway toward a more resilient future for farming.”
Regenerative Organic Certified is governed by the nonprofit Regenerative Organic Alliance, co-founded by Patagonia, the Rodale Institute, and Dr. Bronner’s, and built on the three pillars of soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. For Jackson Family Wines, the certification furthers its Rooted for Good: Roadmap to 2030 sustainability initiative, advancing two of its focus areas at the same time: Land Conservation and Regenerative Farming, and Social Responsibility. The social pillar, which requires fair treatment and living wages for farmworkers, reflects a company that has invested in its people and the communities around its vineyards since it was founded in 1982.
About the Regenerative Organic Alliance
The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is transforming agriculture by advancing practices that eliminate chemical inputs, regenerate soil, uphold animal welfare, and ensure worker well-being. In response to pressing issues like the climate crisis, factory farming, and rural economic challenges, the ROA developed and oversees the Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) label. This third-party verified certification builds on organic standards, establishing the highest global benchmarks for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. ROC™-certified food, fiber, and wellness products drive lasting positive change for our planet and communities. Discover more about our mission and initiatives at
https://regenorganic.org
Pam’s Note: Jackson is also participating in regenerative viticulture research with a team of scientists from U.C. Davis. See 2024 article here.
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