Top 62 High Impact Practices - This document identifies which sustainability practices have the highest impact on the triple bottom line (i.e., vibrant businesses, healthier environment, and stronger communities and workforce).
The Value of Sustainable Certification - A handout on the benefits of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE) for growers and vintners and marketplace drivers for certification.
Risk Mitigation
CSWA Environmental Compliance Tool - This tool is intended to help winegrape growers and vintners understand which environmental permits and licenses apply to the vineyard and/or winery and provides background information and resources to determine next steps to comply with relevant permits and/or obtain licenses. These permits and licenses apply to areas such as water quality, water supply, air quality, and hazardous materials and wastes.
A Winegrowers' Guide to Navigating Risk - Learn how sustainable winegrowing practices can help to mitigate risk in the vineyard, winery and marketplace. Thank you to the USDA Risk Management Agency for helping to fund this project.
Earthquake Preparedness- Learn how to prepare your winery or facility and your employees for an earthquake to mitigate risks.
Fire Preparedness - This short checklist includes the top steps to take to reduce the risk of fire on your property and how to prepare your vineyard or winery staff in the event of a fire. View the education video HERE.
Guía de Viticultores para Navegar el Riesgo - Aprenda cómo las prácticas vitivinícolas sostenibles pueden ayudar a mitigar el riesgo en el viñedo, la bodega y el mercado. (Download the Spanish Language version of the Risk Guide)
Water Use Efficiency
Integrated Water Quality Management Tool - This interactive online tool is designed to help California wineries identify and address their water management needs. A recording of a webinar held May 13, 2021 where the tool is introduced, is available to watch.
How to Conduct an Irrigation Uniformity Test - Learn how to conduct a distribution uniformity (DU) test with just a few simple tools and learn about the many benefits of conducting regular DU field tests.
Watch the Importance of Distribution Uniformity Video HERE.
California Wine's Carbon Footprint - A summary of the results and recommendations stemming from a study of California wine’s carbon footprint.
DNDC Greenhouse Gas Modeling for California Vineyards - A short description of a new online tool to help calculate GHG emissions from your vineyard soil through a computer model based on DNDC (DeNitrification-DeComposition).
In celebration of Healthy Soils Week the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers hosted a webinar. Watch the recording and learn about the latest soil research and hear firsthand how the state’s winegrowers are implementing sustainable practices. Bibliography for Dr. Kerri Steenwerth’s presentation
COVID-19 Harvest Protocols Workbook (from July 7, 2020 webinar co-hosted by California Sustainable Wine Alliance, California Association of Winegrowers and Wine Institute
Consumer & Trade Perceptions of Sustainable Wine - Wine Intelligence & Full Glass Research - June 2020- Hear why communicating about sustainable practices is important for an ever-growing segment of wine buyers and consumers. Two of the top experts in wine industry research presented new data and insights from recent consumer and trade research on perceptions of sustainable winegrowing, certification and practices. A survey and focus groups (conducted by Lulie Halstead of Wine Intelligence) explored national and international consumer perceptions. Christian Miller of Full Glass Research explored similar perceptions among the trade through focus groups and a survey of the Wine Opinions Panel. This webinar concluded with tips on communicating sustainability to trade and consumers.
Consumer Perceptions of Sustainable Winegrowing Research - Wine Intelligence - June 2019 - CSWA and partner organizations from New York, Oregon and Washington commissioned Wine Intelligence to conduct research on consumer perceptions of sustainable winegrowing. The research indicated high interest in purchasing sustainably produced wine in the future, a favorable perception of sustainable certification programs and certification logos, and a willingness to pay more for sustainably produced wine, particularly by Millennials and Gen Z.
CSWA Research Shows Sustainability A Growing Factor in Wine Trade Purchasing - Research, commissioned by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), shows that a majority of the U.S. wine trade considers sustainability when making purchasing decisions and expects demand to increase over the next decade.
Tips for Communicating Sustainability - A short guide developed by communications experts and gatekeepers about how to effective communicate your sustainability efforts.
Understanding Adoption and Impacts of Sustainable Practices in California Vineyards - An interpretation of a 2008 survey of the California wine industry, which aimed to identify motivations and constraints for the adoption of sustainable practices, perceived impacts of the practices, and the effectiveness of the Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP).
CSWA - Provider of the online SWP self-assessment tool to support winegrape growers and vintners in their environmental, economic, and social responsibility initiatives.
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