Since 2008, SIP Certified has infused grape growing and wine making with a sense of responsibility. Participants in SIP Certified may find new Standards (farming and wine processing practices) each year as better practices are researched and developed. Suggested updates to the program come from industry experts and stakeholders. A Technical Advisory Committee oversees changes to the program, balancing the addition and removal of questions as we and our participants continue to set the gold standard for sustainability.
How the Standards Get Updated
- Certification Standards are a “living document” – they are updated as science and technology develop.
- Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) oversees all updates to the program. No more than half the TAC are participants in SIP Certified – this balances updates with practical implementation.
- External experts review the entire program every five years.
- Public and stakeholder input is tracked.
- TAC carefully reviews one to three Standards annually and all suggestions.
- To maintain a reasonable amount of time required to achieve certification and set a high bar for sustainability, the TAC aims to remove an old Standard when a new, better practice is added.
As the first self-assessment for sustainable vineyard farming, SIP Certified was designed by growers for the wine industry. Today, SIP Certified is still rooted in its original mission of helping growers and winemakers implement the best possible practices. So when your customer finds the SIP Certified seal, they know the wine has been made with care for the people and the planet.
Want to join us? Get certified or complete the self-assessment.