SIP Certification – What It Means for Your Wine
Take a look inside the SIP™ Certification process inside and out and find out what it means for your wine.
Quality Commitment
SIP Certification goes beyond the organic wines you typically see in the marketplace – it speaks to the farmer’s commitment to protecting both natural and human resources. Growers and winemakers recognize that mindful fruit production and care for workers’ well-being are important components of quality wine.
Whole Farm System
The comprehensive rules for SIP Certification (known as Standards) address many interrelated elements of the whole farm system. Habitat conservation, energy efficiency, pest management, water conservation, economic stability, and human resources are some of the key elements of the program. The Standards look at the farm in its entirety: the worker, soil fertility, cover crops, wildlife, native plants, irrigation, and more.
SIP Certification
It took us four years to develop the Standards. Over 30 environmental, regulatory, and academic representatives independently reviewed our work. In order to qualify for certification, growers must have their practices verified through in-depth records and on-site audits by accredited independent inspectors. A separate Certification Advisory Committee then determines eligibility based on reports from auditors. During the evaluation process, the name of the vineyard remains anonymous.
Values & Trust
The farmers and wineries show their dedication through daily practice of sustainable farming methods and by investing in certification. Wine lovers interested in showing their dedication to these shared values can do so by choosing SIP Certified wines. The SIP Certified seal assures that the farmer has completed a process verifying that the fruit was grown with respect for the land and the wine was made with SIP Certified fruit.
Want to learn more about the details of the Standards and the certification program? Visit the Central Coast Vineyard Team website.
How Are SIP Certified Wines Different from Organic Wines?
Wines earning SIP Certification go beyond the USDA Organic certification process. While you’ll find many organic wines that are also SIP Certified, the SIP process focuses on sustainable practices on every level of the winegrowing process, from farm labor to agriculture – from energy conservation to water quality. It’s an additional way for consumers to know they’re buying sustainable wines that give back to the land and community on every level.
