Save Now, Certify Later
October 8, 2026
Harvest is busy. Keep a few key records organized now to make certifying your wines much easier later.
SIP Certified Wine certification uses block-to-bottle documentation to verify that qualifying wines contain at least 85% SIP Certified fruit.
Since much of that documentation is created during harvest and throughout the winemaking process, now is a good time to make sure your team knows what to keep.
Keep These Records Handy
As your fruit moves from vineyard to winery to bottle, save:
- SIP Certified letters from your vineyard source(s)
- Harvest records
- Winemaking records
- Storage and movement records
- Bottling records
Know When to Apply
You can begin a wine certification application at any time during the year.
For a first-time certified wine, apply once the wine reaches its final blend, prior to bottling. Wines that have been certified before can be submitted post-bottling, as long as the blend and vineyard sources have not changed.
Plan for 14–30 Days
Most applicants receive their Eligibility Letter within 14–30 days. Here’s what the process looks like:
5 mins | Complete your application
1–5 days | Inspector selects wines for review
10 mins | Upload your documentation
1–5 days | Inspector reviews documentation
1–5 days | Audit report is processed
1–5 days | Committee votes on eligibility
1–5 days | Receive your Eligibility Letter
A little organization now can make for a much smoother certification process when your wines are ready.
Share with Your Team
Download and share How to Certify Your Wine with SIP Certified. It includes the certification process, FAQs, cost breakdown, labeling guidelines, and more.