Category: <span>Program Announcements</span>
December Deadlines for SIP Certified
December 1 – Renew SIP Certification for 2016 Please renew your SIP Certification by December 1, 2015. The renewal application will take less than 5 minutes. Please note that renewal documentation for the inspection is not due until summer 2016. Renewal Application Instructions See the Database User Guide for screen shots Login at https://app.sipcertified.org/ Click Certifications Click Renew (to the right of the vineyard(s) name) Read the instructions Check all boxes, initial and click “Renew My Certification Now” Review your Blocks & Acres and Contact information You are DONE! December 15 – 8.1.1 Pesticide Use... [Read more...]
Inspectors Needed for SIP Certified
Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certification seeks inspectors for its product, vineyard, and winery programs. The inspector’s duty is to review compliance with program rules and objectively document and verify vineyard and winery practices. Inspectors are selected and accredited by SIP Certification staff and program committees. Interviews will be conducted in winter and notice of accreditation given in spring. Upon accreditation, new inspectors will receive an orientation and shadow inspection training. Applicants should have experience auditing/inspecting and have general knowledge of the wine industry. Interested applicants may send a resume to Beth Vukmanic Lopez at beth@vineyardteam.org. [Read more...]
California Grocer – SIP Certified Seal Helps Consumers Go Green
The recent issue of California Grocer featured a piece on SIP Certified in the marketplace today. Businesses that sell SIP Certified wines, like grocers and restaurants, are including the seal on their own materials to promote sustainability. Consumer demand for eco-friendly products is at an all-time high and wine consumers have an eco-friendly choice in SIP Certified vineyards and wineries. The SIP – Sustainability in Practice – Certification program sets the environmental gold standard for vineyards and wineries, and the SIP seal of excellence appears on millions of bottles produced by over 200 California vineyards.... [Read more...]
How you can use the SIP Certified Seal
You're SIP Certified, and ready to let everyone know about this impressive achievement. SIP Certification illustrates that you are dedicated to sustainable principles—that you're willing to adhere to rigorous guidelines to make great wines, farm healthy vineyards, and support the well being of workers. Our SIP Certified seal is available to you when you're ready to shout sustainability from the rooftops (and we fully support you in your efforts!). Add the seal to your own materials. From the wine label to tasting notes to sales sheets, you can include SIP Certified just about anywhere you... [Read more...]
Fialta Releases iTunes Single to Promote Sustainable Farming
100% of proceeds from October downloads will benefit SIP Certified/The Vineyard Team SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif—October 1, 2015 — Today, San Luis Obispo band Fialta releases a cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” to iTunes. During the month of October, 100% of net proceeds will benefit The Vineyard Team, a local non-profit organization. (Available online at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/harvest-moon-single/id1041052614&app=itunes) The Vineyard Team is the organization behind SIP Certified, the rigorous, third-party designation which verifies that wines and vineyards have been attended to with sustainable best practices, from water monitoring and soil health to employee care. Through The Vineyard... [Read more...]
Chapter 11 – Water and Nitrogen Use Workshop
Calculating vineyard water and nitrogen applied helps growers evaluate actual use, track inputs over time, and set efficiency goals. This exercise is valuable for any vineyard manager and is Required for SIP Certification. Dan Rodrigues, Vinaquest, will provide a "how to" on completing SIP Certification Standard Chapter 11 (due December 15, 2015). The free workshop will include interpretation of analysis reports and how to calculate total water applied from irrigation, frost protection, and rainfall plus total nitrogen applied from fertilizer, compost, and water. Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop and their water and nitrogen... [Read more...]
Irrigation System Evaluations Cost Share
SIP Certified vineyards must test the irrigation system for distribution uniformity at least every five years by monitoring emitter outflows and pressure differences (Standard 4.2.1). Through a grant provided by PG&E, the Vineyard Team, developers of SIP Certified, will provide a cost share program for Irrigation Evaluations to assess distribution uniformity of irrigation systems. Evaluations will assess a system's uniformity of applied water, determine the causes of non-uniformity, and provide recommendations for improvement based on the protocol developed by the Irrigation Training & Research Center at Cal Poly. Check the timing of your last distribution uniformity... [Read more...]
2015 SIP Vineyard Certification Eligibility Process
Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified is a rigorous sustainable vineyard and wine certification with strict, non-negotiable requirements. Certified vineyards should be proud of their achievement. July 15 - Documentation, Documentation + Onsite, and Full vineyard inspections completed Unless noted otherwise in the Standards, documentation should reflect practices from Dec. 1, 2014 - June/July 2015 (certification year is Dec. 1 - Nov. 30) Please note growers are subject to a late fee ($250-$500) for documentation received by the inspector after July 24, 2015 July 24, 2015 - Inspectors submit completed inspection reports to SIP staff August... [Read more...]
Due July 15 – SIP Certified Vineyard Inspections
SIP Certified Vineyard Inspections should be completed July 15, 2015. Below are links to help finish up 2015 vineyard inspections. Find Vineyard Inspection Type to determine which Standards to document in the database. Document Vineyard Standards in the Database based on your Inspection Type. Full (Cycle 1) = complete all Standards documentation and onsite inspection Doc + Onsite (Cycle 2 or 3) = complete Standards marked “D” and “D+O” and onsite inspection Documentation (Cycle 2 or 3) = complete Standards marked “D” Vineyards in Cycle 2 or 3 with a Documentation inspection may be eligible... [Read more...]
Vineyard Inspections – Standards to Document & Onsite Inspections
SIP is an annually inspected certification. The certification process is a 3-year cycle, with all growers receiving a complete documentation and onsite inspection in Cycle 1. Growers will receive various combinations of documentation inspections, interviews, and onsite inspections for Cycles 2 and 3. The Inspection Type determines which Standards to document and whether there will be an onsite inspection for the June 1 to July 15 inspections. Document the Standards in the database and schedule an onsite inspection (where applicable) based on the following inspection types: Full (Cycle 1) = complete all Standards documentation and... [Read more...]