Caine Thompson, head of sustainability for O’Neill Vintners & Distillers.
O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, a B Corp–certified company and leader in the wine industry, has achieved the prestigious Regenerative Organic Certification for its Paso Robles estate vineyard at Robert Hall Winery.
Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) sets the highest standard for agriculture, combining USDA organic certification with benchmarks for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. Overseen by the nonprofit Regenerative Organic Alliance, ROC represents a transformative approach to farming that prioritizes ecosystem restoration and community well-being. “Our mission is to continue scaling these practices globally, regenerating vineyards and making sustainable wines accessible and available,” says Jeff O’Neill, founder and CEO of O’Neill Vintners & Distillers.
The 140-acre Paso Robles vineyard property represents a living case study for the wine community. In 2020, O’Neill launched a comparative trial to explore the effects of regenerative organic farming alongside conventional sustainable practices. The trial aimed to provide open and transparent insights into the impacts on soil health, water retention, carbon sequestration, yield, and wine quality—offering growers and the community a roadmap for converting to regenerative organic practices.
“Earning the ROC designation is a monumental achievement for O’Neill and a significant step in our commitment to regenerating our vineyards of tomorrow,” said Caine Thompson, head of sustainability for O’Neill Vintners & Distillers. “This sets a strong foundation to expand regenerative organic farming practices across more of our estate vineyards, enabling us to regenerate and restore our ecosystems and communities, while engaging with industry to embrace and accelerate this critical
This Article was originally published on The SOMM Journal
