By Rowan O’Connell-Gates, WFA GrizzlyCorps Fellow
At WFA, we see ourselves as both agrarian educators and students of the land. Our mission—to integrate nature back into agriculture—is powered by curiosity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to ecological health. Earlier in May, this ethos was fully displayed as WFA staff members Nick Filannino and Rowan O’Connell-Gates attended and shared resources at Napa RISE, a forward-thinking symposium at the intersection of wine, climate, and sustainability.
Staff were joined by WFA board member and pioneering winemaker Julie Johnson of Tres Sabores Winery. The event, part of the six-part 2025 Napa RISE series, focused on Proactive Farming, Soil Health & Biodiversity—a natural alignment with WFA’s work and values.
Each year, Napa RISE (which stands for Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability and Empowerment) convenes a community of changemakers to explore the evolving state of the wine industry in the face of climate change. Topics range from carbon farming and equitable labor practices to wildfire resilience and soil regeneration. At the May 1st event, WFA was among a diverse network of sustainable service providers tabling the venue, offering information, inspiration, and practical tools for more ecological vineyard management.
Our display highlighted WFA’s Farmland Flyways program, which promotes the installation of songbird and barn owl nest boxes across viticultural landscapes. These feathered allies play a vital role in reducing pest pressure—naturally and cost-effectively—while also supporting broader biodiversity goals.
The power of this project was reinforced by a featured presentation from our research partner, Dr. Matt Johnson of Cal Poly Humboldt. His lab’s data-driven research demonstrates the real-world ecological and economic benefits of avian habitat integration in vineyards.
Our presence at Napa Rise underscored a growing appetite in the wine world for practical, nature-based solutions. As conversations around regenerative agriculture gain momentum, WFA remains committed to building bridges between science and the soil—helping farmers and vintners steward land that is not only productive but also resilient and alive.