The Wine Industry’s Premier Sustainability Organization Announces Open Enrollment for New Vineyards, Wineries and Wines
Atascadero, California, November 27, 2018 – SIP Certified® (Sustainability in Practice) is one of the wine industry’s oldest and most important organizations to certify that vineyards, wines and wineries use sustainable practices. The organization has announced it will open its annual 2019 certification process on December 1, 2018. The process will remain open until February 2019.
Applicants can choose to certify their vineyards or winery by implementing the rules covered in the Standards found on the SIP Certified website at app.sipcertified.org. Individual wines made with at least 85% SIP Certified fruit can carry the organization’s seal on their packaging.
“83% of Americans consider sustainability an important factor when buying food and wine,” said Beth Vukmanic Lopez, SIP Certified Manager. “SIP Certified goes well beyond environmental preservation. To maintain certification, our vineyards and wineries must also embrace sound, ethical business practices and treat their employees and community with care and respect. Our mission is to promote healthier land, happier people and more complex and thought-provoking wines.”
SIP Certified launched its pilot program in 2008 with 3,700 acres of vines between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. Today, there are 43,600 acres of vines in California and Michigan and more than 36 million bottles of wine that have been SIP Certified.
SIP Certification covers the following areas:
- Conservation and Enhancement of Biological Diversity
- Vineyard Acquisition, Establishment and Management
- Winery Facility Establishment and Management
- Soil and Water Conservation and Quality
- Energy Conservation and Efficiency
- Pollution and Waste
- Purchasing, Recycling, and Waste Reduction
- Pest Management
- Grape Sourcing and Fruit Quality
- Social Equity
- Continuing Education
- Business Sustainability
To get more information or to start the certification process, vineyards and wineries can visit app.sipcertified.org or contact Beth Vukmanic Lopez, SIP Certified Manager, at 805.466.2288 ext. 3 or at beth@vineyardteam.org.
ABOUT SIP CERTIFIED
Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified is one of the wine industry’s oldest and most important third-party assessment programs. It utilizes a block-to-bottle, integrated approach to management, enabling farmers, wineries and winemakers to preserve the environment and protect human resources. SIP Certified boasts strict, non-negotiable requirements and standards based on science, expert input, independent verification, transparency and the absence of conflict of interest. SIP Certified launched its pilot program in 2008 with 3,700 acres of vines between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. Today, there are 43,600 acres of vines in California and Michigan and more than 36 million bottles of wine that have been SIP Certified.
