Accomplished Marketer to Spearhead Brand Strategy for America’s Leading Organic Winery
Mendocino County, Calif. November 1, 2024 – Bonterra Organic Estates, the leading organic winery in the United States, today announced the appointment of Kate Herbert as Senior Director of Marketing for the Bonterra portfolio. Utilizing consumer, customer and channel insights, Herbert will develop and execute marketing strategies for an expansive range of organically farmed wines in the super premium to luxury categories, including Bonterra, the Bonterra Estate Collection and the Single Vineyard Collection, anchored by The Butler, The McNab and The Roost.
A seasoned marketer, Herbert brings to the Bonterra team a wealth of expertise growing notable consumer brands in the snack, natural and organic food, and pet categories. Herbert joins Bonterra from General Mills, where she led integrated marketing communications across Paid, Owned and Earned media for a $1B+ portfolio of snack brands, including Nature Valley, Lärabar and Fiber One. In this role, Herbert orchestrated innovation launches, steered omnichannel strategy and advocated to embed sustainability efforts into the brands’ business model and communications efforts.
“Kate has a proven track record as an innovative collaborator who turns data-driven insights into brand success,” said Rachel Newman, SVP of Marketing and Impact for Bonterra Organic Estates. “Her personal passion for organic practices aligns beautifully with the Bonterra ethos, making her the ideal leader to drive our purpose-focused brand forward.”
Prior to her most recent role at General Mills, Herbert led brand experience initiatives for the company’s natural and organic brands, including Annie’s, Epic Provisions and Cascadian Farm, with a clear emphasis on the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit.
“My passion for marketing and brand building began to intersect with regenerative and organic practices while working in the natural food space,” said Herbert. “That convergence sparked a strong desire to work with brands—like Bonterra Organic Estates—that champion a deeper purpose.”
Earlier in her career, Herbert held roles of increasing responsibility at J.M. Smucker Co., including developing marketing plans across a robust portfolio of pet food and treats, including Milk-Bone, Meow Mix and Natural Balance, and developing creative strategy and advertising for iconic brands like Jif, Dunkin’ Donuts, Folgers and Smuckers. Herbert previously spent more than a decade on the agency side, managing notable CPG accounts, including E. & J. Gallo Winery, Blue Moon Brewing Company and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.
Kate holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Chapman University and is a longtime resident of Northern California’s wine country.
“The transformation of the vineyards marks the changing of the seasons for me, so Bonterra feels like the perfect place to forge the next phase of my career,” said Herbert. “I’m thrilled to engage more consumers with a range of wines that taste great in the glass and reflect the pure quality of organic farming.”
About Bonterra Organic Estates
Bonterra Organic Estates is an award-winning purveyor of multi-origin wines, selling in more than 50 countries worldwide. Founded by Barney Fetzer in Mendocino County, CA, in 1968 as Fetzer Vineyards, and today part of global powerhouse Viña Concha y Toro, Bonterra Organic Estates remains driven by excellence, innovation, and longstanding commitments to the environment and responsible business practices. With a focus on crafting wines made from organic and Regenerative Organic Certified® grapes, Bonterra Organic Estates is a leading U.S. marketer of wines and the nation’s primary importer of South American wines. As a B Corp certified company, Bonterra Organic Estates is grounded in the transformational goals of regenerative business. For more information about Bonterra Organic Estates and its commitment to sustainability, visit bonterra.com.
Leading Mendocino County winery has partnered with Agrology to monitor vineyard microbial activity and showcase soil health outcomes from regenerative and organic farming practices.
HOPLAND, Calif., Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Bonterra Organic Estates, the largest Regenerative Organic Certified® winery in the U.S., continues to advocate for the advancement of regenerative viticulture by sharing data that showcases how their farming practices enhance soil health. The California-based winery utilizes Agrology‘s advanced soil and carbon monitoring technology to gather unprecedented real-time insights into the climate-smart impacts of its regenerative farming methods.
“In wine, the soil is our story and we now have deeper insights into how our viticulture practices are actually impacting the long-term legacy of that story,” said Joseph Brinkley, Senior Director of Regenerative Organic Development at Bonterra Organic Estates. “For many decades, we’ve recognized the significant benefits of regenerative and organic farming practices for the health and vitality of our vineyards. Having real-time data to validate these benefits and guide our future actions is transformative.”
Since spring 2024, Bonterra has been using Agrology’s technology to monitor soil health and carbon in its Mendocino County vineyards. The winery will continue building a data baseline through 2025, allowing it to track improvements in soil respiration and overall health on a monthly and yearly basis while comparing the effects of different viticulture practices. Agrology’s system measures soil microbial activity, moisture and soil carbon providing growers with real-time insights into the biological life of the soil—crucial for maintaining a healthy vineyard ecosystem and addressing climate change.
METHOD AND TOP-LINE RESULTS
Agrology sensors monitor soil microbial activity and function through the lens of soil respiration. Measuring the total amount of this CO2 respiration indicates the total amount of biological activity in the soil, and has been used for more than 50 years by researchers and academics to assess and quantify soil health. As soil microbes go about their lives—digesting organic matter, cycling nutrients, and building soil structure—they exhale carbon dioxide, just as humans do. The more active the microbes, the higher the soil respiration, indicating healthier, more biologically active soil. Bonterra has deployed Agrology sensors in several of its iconic vineyards in Mendocino County. Data collected is being referenced against a nearby vineyard that uses general sustainable (but not organic or regenerative) farming practices.
In the highest performing Bonterra vineyard, Blue Heron, the average soil respiration was nearly triple that of the reference vineyard, indicating a three-fold increase in microbial activity thanks to Bonterra’s regenerative program. This increased biological activity, measured from mid-May to early September 2024, contributes to a variety of positive ecological impacts such as improved nutrient cycling (leading to increased vine health), improved water holding capacity, better soil structure and aggregate formation, as well as better pest and disease resistance.
Other measured results from the same timeframe include:
- Greater Total Soil Respiration in regenerative vineyards – This measures the overall soil respiration for the season so far, which is a key indicator of microbial activity.
- Across five Bonterra vineyards, the average Cumulative Soil Respiration value was 182.82 g/m² or 74.54% greater than that of the reference vineyard (104.74 g/m²).
- Bonterra’s Blue Heron vineyard was 360.870 g/m² or approximately 244.53% better than the reference vineyard Cumulative Soil Respiration value.
- Improved Average Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon in regenerative vineyards –This measures the carbon stored in the soil’s living microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, which are crucial for soil structure and nutrient cycling.
- The average Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon across Bonterra’s five vineyards was 390.84 mgC/kg or 6.35% greater than that of the reference vineyard (367.490 mgC/kg).
- In Bonterra’s Blue Heron vineyard, the average Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon was 452.804 mgC/kg or approximately 23.22% better than the reference vineyard.
“Bonterra’s commitment to regenerative organic practices has set the standard in the wine industry,” said Adam Koeppel, CEO of Agrology. “Healthier soils respire more CO2, cycle nutrients more efficiently, and foster a thriving ecosystem. We look forward to supporting their ongoing efforts to enhance soil health and biological function, as well as drive improvements in vine health, wine quality, and making an overall positive impact on the climate.”
Bonterra’s pioneering leadership in the wine industry is well established, with certifications including Regenerative Organic Certified®, TRUE Zero Waste and B Corp. By harnessing the Agrology platform, the winery is further elevating its commitment to environmental stewardship. Agrology’s sensors continuously monitor ecosystem outcomes and growing conditions, enabling Bonterra to experiment with different practices and refine its regenerative strategies such as cover cropping, sheep grazing, compost application, reduced/no tillage and planting for biodiversity. Each of these methods plays a crucial role in enhancing farm, fruit, and soil health while building resilience against climate change.
JOIN BONTERRA ON OCTOBER 30
Bonterra Organic Estates and Agrology will host a webinar on Wednesday, October 30th @10am PST titled, “The Ecological and Business Outcomes of Quantifying & Building Soil Health.” This discussion will explore how measuring soil microbial activity and overall ecosystem health can inform the impact of a regenerative program in terms of ecological and business outcomes. Attendees will learn first hand from Joseph Brinkley, one of the leading experts in regenerative viticulture. This webinar is free to attend and interested parties can register here.
ABOUT BONTERRA ORGANIC ESTATES
The United States’ largest Regenerative Organic Certified® winery, Bonterra Organic Estates is an award-winning purveyor of multi-origin wines, selling in over 50 countries worldwide. Founded by Barney Fetzer in Mendocino County, CA, in 1968 as Fetzer Vineyards, and today part of global powerhouse Viña Concha y Toro, Bonterra Organic Estates continues to lead with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and environmental stewardship. With a focus on crafting wines made from organic and Regenerative Organic Certified grapes, Bonterra Organic Estates is a leading U.S. marketer of wines and the nation’s primary importer of South American wines. As a B Corp certified company, Bonterra Organic Estates is grounded in the transformational goals of regenerative business. For more information about Bonterra Organic Estates and its commitment to sustainability, visit bonterra.com.
ABOUT AGROLOGY
Agrology is a leading agricultural technology company, a National Science Foundation award recipient, and a Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to providing real-time data that helps growers directly measure the ecological and agronomic impacts of their regenerative farming practices and microclimate. Agrology monitors soil health, microbial activity, the carbon cycle, nitrous oxide emissions and a comprehensive agronomic dataset, empowering growers to monitor and predict growing conditions, as well as measure and link regenerative or sustainable practices to ground-truth GHG reductions and ecological impacts. Trusted by top growers, researchers, and global CPG brands, Agrology has offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and Salinas, California. Discover more at Agrology.ag.
🤩 We are simply thrilled to share that Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc was featured on the cover of the latest Wine Enthusiast magazine! A huge thank you to Wine Enthusiast for including our 2023 Sauvignon Blanc on the "Top 100 Best Buys of 2024" list, which celebrates the best wines of the year under $20. Cheers! 🍷 🎉
See the list: https://lnkd.in/gEapiUXy
HOPLAND, CALIFORNIA August 30, 2024 — Bonterra Organic Estates is thrilled to announce an extraordinary partnership with Good Farm Fund for a Harvest Winemaker Dinner, taking place on Saturday, September 14 at the picturesque McNab Ranch. This event is a unique opportunity to experience Bonterra’s extraordinary grounds, as it is the only public event at McNab Ranch this year.
The evening will kick off at 5:30 pm with a garden reception that showcases the finest offerings from Mendocino County. Guests will enjoy appetizers featuring ingredients from local farmers, plus a wine tasting with Bonterra’s Senior Winemakers, Margaret Leonardi-Pruett and Sebastian Donoso, with the option to take a vineyard tour to immerse themselves in the beauty of the estate.
At 6:30, the culinary journey continues with a three-course feast prepared by renowned Mendocino chef, Olan Cox. Chef Olan’s commitment to using hyper-local, organic ingredients promises a dining experience that is both innovative and deeply rooted in Mendocino’s agricultural bounty. Each course will be thoughtfully paired with Bonterra’s award-winning Regenerative Organic Certified® wines. Guests will also dine with a local farmer who has received one of Good Farm Fund’s capacity building grants, and who will speak to the impact the grant has had on their farm.
In partnership with Good Farm Fund, Bonterra is excited to support the local farming community through this event. The collaboration highlights both organizations’ shared commitment to local agriculture and community resiliency.
“We are absolutely delighted to open our barn doors for this unforgettable evening,” said Rachel Newman, Bonterra’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “This partnership with Good Farm Fund is a celebration of and fundraiser for our local community’s farmers, and we can’t wait to share this magical experience with our guests.”
To maintain an intimate atmosphere, seating is limited to just 50 tickets. Vegetarian and vegan options are available upon request when making reservations. For reservations and more information, visit bonterra.com/wines/2024-harvest-dinner/.
About Bonterra Organic Estates
The United States’ largest Regenerative Organic Certified® winery, Bonterra Organic Estates is an award winning purveyor of multi-origin wines, selling in over 50 countries worldwide. Founded by Barney Fetzer in Mendocino County, CA, in 1968 as Fetzer Vineyards, and today part of global powerhouse Viña Concha y Toro, Bonterra Organic Estates remains driven by excellence, innovation and longstanding commitments to the environment and responsible business practices. With a focus on crafting wines made from sustainable and Regenerative Organic Certified grapes, Bonterra Organic Estates is a leading U.S. marketer of wines and the nation’s primary importer of South American wines. As a B Corp recognized as “Outstanding” by the nonprofit B Lab, Bonterra Organic Estates is grounded in the transformational goals of regenerative business.
About Good Farm Fund
Good Farm Fund was established in 2015 with the mission of supporting the economic viability of small farms in Lake and Mendocino Counties, as well as increasing local food access for low-income members of the community. The organization awards microgrants ranging from $500 to $10,000 for capacity-building projects on small farms. It also fundraises for the CalFresh Market Match program, which helps make farm-fresh, locally grown foods more affordable by matching CalFresh benefits dollar-for-dollar, up to a certain amount, with coins that can be redeemed for fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets. Good Farm Fund is a program of North Coast Opportunities, Inc., a nonprofit organization.
Shifting tides in the US wine industry are compelling grape growers, wineries, and winemakers to consider dramatic changes. Established practices are under pressure from economic, demographic, and climate changes, including softening consumer demand, rising prices, and the effects of climate change.
Vineyard and winery owners must translate high-level challenges into practical, everyday decisions, such as closing a facility, reducing water usage, or embracing new environmental and safety certifications.
Vina Concha y Toro USA’s Mendocino-based Bonterra Organic Estates pioneered this philosophy of a sustainability-minded winery, evidenced by its long history of producing organic and responsibly crafted wines. Several years ago, it opened its facilities to the wine community in Northern California and beyond, believing this would help wineries adapt to the changing economic environment by giving them an alternative to maintaining their own winemaking and storage facilities. Bonterra can also help wineries on the path to producing organic wines.
“Our winery, and production facility are certified organic,” says Kris Black, Senior Director of Supply Chain for the custom crush business at ViñaConcha y Toro USA’s Hopland facility in Mendocino County. “Our custom crush uses the same equipment we use for our wine, so there’s no separation between what we do for our custom clients and what we do for ourselves. When the Fetzer family owned the business, they built a very large winery, so we have extra capacity and want to maximize its use. We also invested in a new filler for one production line, which puts us on the cutting edge of bottling lines and allows us to continue growing.”
“Winemaking is creative, but it’s also science,” says Winemaker Natalie Dale of her craft. “You use both sides of your brain. You touch every part of the process from vineyard to bottle while creating something people love.”
Dale is the main point of contact for custom crush clients and can make red and white wines for wineries. The team can bottle clients’ wine in 750ml and 1.5L formats using its three high-speed production lines. These lines can easily handle 10,000 cases a day, but wineries ask them to deliver everything from 2500 cases to a couple hundred thousand cases. In addition, Bonterra’s custom crush can provide storage facilities and source grapes from throughout the US, bulk wine from California or Latin America, cased and bulk glass, and other packaging materials.
“We use our economies of scale to benefit our customers in ways that may not be obvious to them because we have a strong procurement team and relationships with everybody in the industry,” Black explains. “We know who’s best for meeting our customers’ requirements. For example, because lightweighting our glass is super important to us, we can offer that same glass to a customer looking to make the transition. Some clients don’t realize they can lightweight their line while maintaining the same look as with heavyweight bottles.”
One of the unique benefits of working with Bonterra is that they consider clients part of their family. That means the dedicated custom crush team treats their clients’ wine and bottling like their own, which includes providing access to Bonterra’s food quality, organic and other certifications, and making the team ― from Black to Dale to the head of winemaking ― available whenever clients need them. They can also draw on parent company Viña Concha y Toro’s cutting-edge research and global access to wine and other materials.
“ViñaConcha y Toro headquarters are in Chile, and the Chilean culture is very warm,” says Nicole Iversen, Strategic Partnerships Manager. “They go over the top to make people feel welcome, and we do the same to make our customers feel welcome. It’s also part of living up to our B Corporation certification standards. When we ask our employees, ‘What are you most proud of about working here?’ Ninety percent say, ‘When I look at what we accomplish, I feel a sense of pride.’ They always talk about things like environmental stewardship, social impact and responsible business practices.”
Bonterra feels a responsibility to fold the broader wine community into its family. Through its custom crush service, it can offer other wineries the knowledge and facilities it has built over the decades.
Contact us via our custom services website: https://vct-usa.com/custom-wine-services/.