How a 101-Year-Old Winery Is Leading the Charge on Sustainability?

As the global wine market continues to evolve amid economic and environmental pressures, one segment is quietly gaining ground: wines rooted in sustainability. A 2025 survey by the Wine Market Council found that 60% of multicultural consumers aged 20 to 40 now prefer wines that are organic, green, or certified sustainable. In fact, organic wine sales rose 2.6% year-over-year in 2024, signaling that sustainable practices in winegrowing are no longer just aspirational, they’re commercially relevant.

Delicato Family Wines, a 101-year-old, family-owned California winery, has been steadily weaving sustainability into the fabric of its operations. With deep roots in agricultural stewardship and a strong focus on people and planet, Delicato is demonstrating how a long-standing wine business can adapt to today’s challenges without losing sight of its legacy.

A Deep and Measured Commitment

Delicato’s approach to sustainability is far-reaching and deeply embedded in its operations, not just a label or trend. Since 2011, the winery has actively participated in the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), achieving Certified California Sustainable status for its vineyards and wineries. Wines bearing the Certified California Sustainable seal must meet stringent criteria: 100% of grapes sourced from California, 85% from certified sustainable vineyards, and the wine must be produced in a certified sustainable facility, verified annually through independent audits.

For wines featuring the Sonoma County Sustainable label, Delicato sources grapes from vineyards in a region where 99% of vineyards are sustainably certified. These efforts reflect a commitment not just to environmental practices, but to systems of accountability and long-term agricultural health.

California’s changing climate has made these sustainability investments more than a philosophy, they’re a necessity. With water scarcity becoming a permanent fixture, Delicato has adopted precise vineyard practices, including the use of moisture sensors and recycled water wherever possible. Cover crops help protect soil integrity, wildlife like wild boars and rabbits roam freely, and minimal tilling keeps carbon in the soil. Grape waste, from stems to skins, is repurposed into compost, reinforcing a regenerative cycle. Energy audits are regularly conducted to refine usage and reduce waste.

“We aim to farm with as little environmental impact as possible, while protecting the full lifecycle of our vineyards and the ecosystem that surrounds them,” the company shares.

Sustainability by Design

This commitment continues into the winery’s production and distribution. At its state-of-the-art G4C production and logistics center in Manteca, California, Delicato has invested over US$100 million to align sustainability with wine quality. The facility features electric forklifts, high-efficiency cooling systems, and energy-saving building designs. A recent waste audit showed the facility diverted more than 50% of its waste from landfills over the past two years – a result of ongoing reviews and operational refinements.

As Chief Operating Officer Jay Indelicato puts it: “Respect for our land, our people, and our uncompromising commitment to quality will endure for the next 100 years.”

Packaging with Purpose

Delicato’s innovations extend to packaging, where environmental benefits intersect with consumer demand. The company’s Bota Box, a 3-liter bag-in-box wine, has grown into a customer favorite, especially among younger drinkers. The format reduces carbon emissions when compared to glass bottles and stays fresh for up to a month, significantly cutting down on spoilage and waste.

Delicato is also exploring lighter-weight glass bottles across its portfolio. Already implemented in parts of its European business, this initiative is being reviewed for broader expansion into domestic markets. These efforts are designed to reduce raw material usage and emissions while maintaining quality.

Investing in People

Sustainability at Delicato extends beyond land and packaging. In 2018, the company launched the Delicato Women’s Leadership Initiative (DWLI) to recruit, develop, and retain women in the wine industry. From California to the East Coast, DWLI chapters are creating spaces for women to grow, connect, and lead with purpose; whether through workshops, panels, mentorship, or volunteerism. The impact is real and continues to expand across the organization.

In addition, Delicato has expanded access to the industry through a scholarship and mentorship program for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students. The initiative includes full scholarships, paid internships, mentorship by Delicato team members, and a pathway to full-time roles post-graduation. This year, the program celebrated a major milestone as its first scholar graduated with a degree in Wine & Viticulture and is now preparing to join one of Delicato’s wineries for harvest, with a full-time winemaking role to follow, an early example of the impact this program is designed to achieve.

Looking Ahead

Founded in 1924 by Italian immigrants, Delicato is now stewarded by the fourth generation of the Indelicato family. That lineage gives the winery a strong foundation, but it also brings a responsibility to adapt and lead through change.

With climate pressures mounting and consumer values shifting, the winery’s belief is clear: long-term resilience depends on long-term thinking. From its vineyards to its packaging and people strategy, Delicato is building a model that blends pragmatism with principle.

For a legacy winery navigating the next century, sustainability isn’t a side initiative – it’s the way forward.