What Is Sustainable Winegrowing?
Sustainable winegrowing is a comprehensive set of practices that are environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically viable. Sustainable winegrowing is being used by winegrape growers and vintners throughout California to grow and make high quality grapes and wine. These sustainable vineyard and winery practices conserve water and energy, maintain healthy soil, protect air and water quality, enhance relations with employees and communities, preserve local ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and improve the economic vitality of vineyards and wineries.
What Is the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program?
The Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP) gives growers and vintners educational tools to increase adoption of sustainable practices and to measure and demonstrate ongoing improvement.
Building on major trends and successful regional efforts, the wine community joined together to create the Sustainable Winegrowing Program, administered by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. A comprehensive workbook and other resources provide how-to information on sustainable winegrowing.
Participants self-assess their vineyards and wineries and voluntarily contribute data to measure adoption of sustainable practices. The statewide Sustainability Reports document results, identifies strengths and opportunities for improvement, and sets goals to increase use of sustainable practices. Partners from government, academia, and community and environmental groups contribute resources and expertise.
What Is Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE)?
CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE is a certification program developed by CSWA and industry stakeholders that provides third-party verification that a winery or vineyard adopts and implements sustainable winegrowing practices according to the industry's Code of best practices, commits to a process of continuous improvement, measures and tracks production metrics, and maintains compliance with IPM requirements. Beginning in 2017, there is a new option available to use a logo on the bottle for participants who meet the necessary requirements.
Sustainable Winegrowing Down to Earth Newsletters
View profiles of California vintners and growers sharing their best practices and news in sustainable winegrowing.
Visit the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) website for more information on the Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP) and Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE), including a workshop calendar and a number of grower and vintner tools and resources:
Sign up for a username and password for the Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP) online system:
Download the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Workbook:
Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) information and application: