Jan 2, 2019

Fetzer Vineyards COO is ‘Green Personality of the Year’

Fetzer Vineyards’ Chief Operating Officer Cindy DeVries was named 2018’s Green Personality of the Year by The Drinks Business Green Awards.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, Fetzer Vineyards was founded in 1968 by Barney Fetzer in Mendocino County, California.

Selected from a pool of global candidates, DeVries was hailed for her role in shaping Fetzer Vineyards’ forward-looking approach to sustainability, including helping the winery achieve Zero Waste and CarbonNeutral certifications, and advancing California’s efforts to adopt 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2045.

For nearly a decade, UK-based alcohol beverage journal, The Drinks Business, has presented its annual Green Awards to companies and individuals who are leading the industry in sustainability and environmental performance. DeVries’ honor reflects growing recognition of the influence a local winery is having on global efforts to promote sustainable business practices and climate health.

The Drinks Business noted that it awarded DeVries its personality honor in 2018 for her “single-minded drive to ensure one business lives and breathes sustainability. Working within a major producer of organic and biodynamic grapes, she has devoted 25 years to this business, furthering its commitment to environmentally responsible winegrowing, while successfully navigating two changes in ownership.”