Sustainable Winegrowing

Sustainable winegrowing practices protect our soil, air and water – elements that breathe life, and ultimately flavor, into our grapes and wines. Being good stewards of the land and good neighbors are principles our wineries and vineyards live by each and every day. Adopting environmentally and socially responsible practices and making them an integral part of how we do business is our way of ensuring the health of our land, our communities and our industry for generations to come.

For more information, go to California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA).

A Common Mission

California winemakers are working towards a collective goal:
To leave things better than we found them.

Sustainable, organic and biodynamic are all rooted in ancient techniques and have evolved to include new technologies and practices. More recently they have been formalized into standards and certification programs with clear requirements. At the end of the day, they have more in common than not.

To date, 67% of California winegrape acres are certified sustainable, with even more acreage certified Biodynamic® and organic.

Being a Sustainable Winegrower Means

Producing High Quality Grapes and Wines

Protecting the Environment

Being a Good Neighbor and Employer

Maintaining a Thriving Long-Term Business

What is Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing?

A statewide certification program that verifies a winery and/or vineyard’s socially and environmentally responsible practices.

Play Video

California Sustainable Winegrowing Ambassador Course

Take our free online certificate course for wine professionals and wine lovers to learn more about sustainability.

Learn More About the Course

California Sustainable Winegrowing Program

Through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance helps vineyards and wineries continuously improve in adopting sustainable practices. The program provides educational workshops and resources including the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, a workbook that enables growers and vintners to evaluate over 200 sustainable practices from grapes to glass.

Learn More About the Program

Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing

Through annual third-party audits, certification provides independent verification of stringent requirements that ensure key sustainability areas such as soil health, water and energy, habitat and human resources are addressed. Certified vineyards and wineries must also measure resources and performance, comply with restrictions on crop protection materials, and improve year after year.

Learn More About the Certification