“We cannot hope to create a sustainable
culture with any but sustainable souls.”
With over 1,000,000 acres of
American soil dedicated to vineyards, sustaining the land has become a priority for an increasing
number of viticulturists. According to the World Commission on Environment and
Development, sustainability ensures that humanity “meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs” (Sustainable Development, par. 1). To do this, those who work the land must
do so with, what the Iroquois Indians coined, the “next seven generations in mind”.
Sustainability in the wine industry takes on many forms, from water conservation to natural pest control methods to alternative power sources. According to the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), a nonprofit organization created to promote sustainable winegrowing practices, identifies 227 “best practices for the environment and communities from grapes to glass”. No matter what practices, or how many, a vineyard implements, taking any steps towards sustainability is a step in the right direction!
Of the over 546,000 acres of California vineyards, 73,000 have been certified by CCSW (Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing). To be certified, a winery or vineyard must evaluate their operation on the 227 “best practices”, meet at least 58 prerequisites from the “California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Workbook”,and verify the authenticity of their self-assessment through a third-party audit. Once accepted into the CCSW program, vineyards and wineries must create and execute an annual action plan that moves their business towards continued improvement in the area of sustainability.
Employing sustainable efforts is no longer limited to just farmlands; vineyards are seeing a transition to sustainability, as well. Don’t you want to do your part to save our planet’s resources by implementing sustainable practices with your winery and vineyard? You can visit the CCSW website for more information on how you, too, can take steps towards becoming a more sustainable operation for generations to come. N
Sustainability in the wine industry takes on many forms, from water conservation to natural pest control methods to alternative power sources. According to the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), a nonprofit organization created to promote sustainable winegrowing practices, identifies 227 “best practices for the environment and communities from grapes to glass”. No matter what practices, or how many, a vineyard implements, taking any steps towards sustainability is a step in the right direction!
Of the over 546,000 acres of California vineyards, 73,000 have been certified by CCSW (Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing). To be certified, a winery or vineyard must evaluate their operation on the 227 “best practices”, meet at least 58 prerequisites from the “California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Workbook”,and verify the authenticity of their self-assessment through a third-party audit. Once accepted into the CCSW program, vineyards and wineries must create and execute an annual action plan that moves their business towards continued improvement in the area of sustainability.
Employing sustainable efforts is no longer limited to just farmlands; vineyards are seeing a transition to sustainability, as well. Don’t you want to do your part to save our planet’s resources by implementing sustainable practices with your winery and vineyard? You can visit the CCSW website for more information on how you, too, can take steps towards becoming a more sustainable operation for generations to come. N
ot sure you are ready to make
that commitment? Join my email list to receive weekly blog posts highlighting
California wineries and vineyards that have already made this commitment.
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