Sustainability In Practice (SIP) Certified ® is a sustainable certification program for winegrowers and winemakers.
SIP Certified brands use third-party verified sustainable practices so you can feel confident your wine protects the people and the planet.
Certification addresses the 3 P’s of Sustainability – People, Planet, Prosperity – ensuring that both natural and human resources are protected.
Community involvement, charitable donations, employee development and safety programs, continuing education, and much more are addressed in the program's Standards.
Alternative energy, recycling, habitat conservation plans, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), cover crops, organic soil additions, and responsible irrigation management practices all help to combat climate change and protect the environment.
You can't have a sustainable business if you can't sustain the business. That's why SIP Certified members must have annual/multi-year budgets, sales and marketing plans, and maintain legible inventory and production records.
“It’s important to me to be a conscientious member of our community. The SIP Certified program is a comprehensive process that demonstrates our - Melani Harding, Owner and Winemaker, Bon Niche Cellars, San Miguel, CA |
SIP Certified evolved from the award-winning self-assessment (Positive Points System) developed by Vineyard Team which helped growers evaluate their sustainable practices on every level, from habitat to water, soil to human resources.
After four years of intensive review by viticulture experts and experienced growers, SIP Certified launched its pilot program in 2008 with 3,700 acres of vines between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties.
Today, over 43,000 vineyard acres in California, Oregon, and Michigan, six wineries, and more than 63 million bottles of wine have been SIP Certified.
Consumers around the world can now find a wide array of sustainably produced wines to fit their needs, budgets, and stylistic preferences.
SIP Certified is proud to stand with other environmental leaders working to preserve our natural and human resources.
Mark Pisoni loves the outdoors. It’s a welcomed attribute when your title is Vineyard Manager at Pisoni Vineyards. Over the years the Pisonis have helped establish the Santa Lucia Highlands as one of California’s top AVAs for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir...
Read MoreAs a teenager, David Lafond spent his summers pruning, picking, and hauling at his family’s vineyards in Santa Barbara County. As an adult, David spent two decades as a successful General Contractor in the county before coming full circle back to the...
Read MoreIn June 2025, SIP Certified’s Technical Advisory Committee met to discuss two questions that are new to the 2025 standards: Requirement 5.1.5 and Management Enhancement 5.1.9.
The following updates have been made to the 2025 Standards...
Last week, our Technical Advisory Committee met to discuss two questions that are new to the 2025 standards: Requirement 5.1.5 and Management Enhancement 5.1.9.
The following updates have been made to the 2025 standards.