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The Meritage Resort and Spa in California's Napa Valley
Couples wishing for a wine country wedding have a new, green option for sealing their eco-friendly vows.
The Meritage Resort and Spa, located at the southern tip of the Napa Valley, announced this week that it will be offering a new set of eco-conscious choices that couples can customize into their own green wedding package.
“The Meritage has always been committed to leaving the smallest footprint possible and the green weddings are just the next step in this commitment,” said Wedding and Special Event Director Lisa Crowell. “We encourage our wedding guests to start their lifelong commitment to the environment with their special day.”
Crowell says a typical wedding reception for 100 guests requires hundreds of plates, glasses and cloth napkins to be washed, which translates into thousands of gallons of water used to wash them. Therefore, the resort wants to offer the following solution to formal plates and linens — chic, picnic-style meals using biodegradable silverware, cups and plates, and napkins made from recyclable material.
Couples can also opt for an all-organic reception, using farm-fresh ingredients local to Northern California. Crowell says this eliminates emission from trucking in food from far away and allows the resort to reinvest in the local community. Some of the local ingredients Executive Chef Laurent Berthon incorporates into the menu are fresh cheeses from Mendocino, Sonoma and Humboldt, as well as honeycomb from nearby Santa Rosa.
And what better to celebrate a wine country wedding than organic wines from Napa and Sonoma? Couples tying the knot at the Meritage can also choose to serve organic wines from Benziger, Frog’s Leap and Grigich.
Another bonus for your sustainably-minded guests — those driving green cars get front row parking at the resort’s hybrid-dedicated parking spots.
Other green initiatives at the Meritage include a partnership with Napa County Recycling and Waste Services to implement a strong recycling program at the resort. Employees have been educated on recycling guidelines, and recycling bins are now located next to every trash can on the premises, including guest rooms. The Meritage has also replaced all paper products with recycled paper, including Kleenex, toilet paper and paper towels.
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