Panelists share their experiences conducting GHG inventories. 

VMC Guide to becoming Certified.

A toolkit for wineries and vineyards to address the impacts of climate change through climate smart winegrowing.

The cost estimates associated with certification.

Webinar recording about CCSW wine certification, logos and written claims.

Scientific research on climate change impacts to grape phenology.

A research paper on science-backed actions to address climate change in vineyards.

The Climate Action Plan Worksheet is intended to accompany the California Vineyard & Winery Climate Action Toolkit. It will help you create a strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation.

This guide accompanies the Climate Action Toolkit's Sustainable Purchasing Implementation Guide.

Tips for wineries and vineyards to communicate about climate smart practices.

A summary document of a research paper on science-backed actions to address climate change in vineyards.

A combined implementation guide for vineyard and winery energy related climate smart practices.

A factsheet on sustainable packaging options from cans to lightweight glass and aluminum bottles. 

A guide on climate smart practices to improve vineyard water use efficiency. 

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and the Climate Action Toolkit

A list of regenerative winegrowing principles and practices aligned with sustainable winegrowing.

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and the Climate Action Toolkit.

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and Climate Action Toolkit.

An implementation guide as part of the Climate Smart Toolkit for wineries and vineyards to address solid waste.

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and the Climate Action Toolkit.

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and Climate Action Toolkit.

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and the Climate Smart Toolkit. 

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and Climate Action Toolkit.

This guide accompanies the Climate Smart Report and Climate Action Toolkit.

The Climate Action Plan Worksheet is intended to accompany the California Vineyard & Winery Climate Action Toolkit. (The Word document is a simple version, there is an Excel version that is more comprehensive).

Innovations in Sustainable Packaging: Three Case Studies of Alternative and Lightweight Packaging, shares examples from wineries who have implemented sustainable packaging changes.   

A list of all CCSW accredited auditors.

A guide developed by the Porto Protocol with practical, actionable steps for making packaging decisions. 

Webinar recording for certified participants seeking renewal (Passcode: ?4O53^?%).

The presentation slides from the 2024-25 Certification Renewal Webinar.

Learn where and how logos and written claims are used. 

Audit Report Template for CCSW Accredited Auditors

This is a step by step guide outlining the process of the chain of custody audit required to use the certified wine logo.

Template for tracking action plan information.

Use this template to collect information on sites not part of a current sample.

Guidance on determining the Sampling Approach

Review prior to the COC Audit to prepare supporting documentation for the COC Audit.

Explains the process for custom crush wineries and their clients to certify wine. 

This form must be completed and submitted prior to bottling and labeling a wine bearing the CCSW wine logo and prior to the COC Audit. 

Outlines audit report due dates for CCSW's three deadline groups.

A sample word document to document internal COC procedures (downloads as a Microsoft Word document upon clicking)

This 2023 Certification Report details major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and certified vineyards and wineries. 

Guidance for non-certified companies who purchase certified case goods and/or certified bulk wine.

Logo and communications style guide for non-certified companies who purchase certified wine. 

Wine label notification form for NON-CERTIFIED Companies.

A list of prerequisite practices, requirements, and instructions to run reports. 

A webinar held August 8, 2024 focused on establishing a dry farmed vineyard.

Programa de certificación en linea para profesionales del vino y amantes del vino.

This handout features the highlights from the 3rd U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit held virtually April 30 - May 1, 2024. 

Information sheet about a cost share opportunity for climate smart practices adoption (e.g., no till, reduced till, compost/mulch, grazing, nutrient management, cover crops). 

2023 Certified California Sustainable Annual Report - Appendix 

Download this Excel tool to learn how to identify, implement and manage energy efficiency opportunities within a winery. 

List of all Code Workbook prerequisite practices with Code language and score.

An overview of the latest science on climate change impacts and viticulture and a discussion with wineries on how to priortized climate smart practices.

A discussion of how to leverage your sustainability work in communications and storytelling.

Social Sustainability is about how business impact people, including employees and customers.

A panel discussion on sustainable supply chain purchasing and responsible packaging decisions in the wine industry.

Robert P. Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute, discussed the importance of sustainability for the U.S. Wine Industry. 

Dr. Liz Thach, MW, President of Wine Market Council, discussed consumer perceptions on the importance of sustainability. 

Allison Jordan, Executive Director of CSWA and VP of Environmental Affairs of Wine Institute welcomes attendees to the 2024 Summit.

This template contains action plan examples for meeting the certification prerequisites.

A list of certified wines to date.

A summary of 2023 wine trade research, focused on climate beneficial attributes of sustainable wine and climate-related packaging considerations. 

Action Plan Form for Dual Pathway Certification Program

Guidance to CCSW Witness Audit Process

Checklist used in CCSW Witness Audits

Guidance on making an audit plan.

Auditor guideance on the auditing process.

Request for Qualifications for CCSW Auditors

Webinar recording of the Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP) and Certification. Designed for New Applicants. Passcode: H1CR0z%r

Guidance for the Code Workbook as part of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing.

Application for Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing.

This document identifies the steps for initial certification (new applicants).

A summary of Code updates for the 2024 Self-Assessment.

Certification Guidebook: requirements, prerequisites, steps and guidelines. 

Tips on preparing for a successful desk audit.

2022 Certified California Sustainable Annual Report - Appendix 

This 2022 Certification Report details major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and certified vineyards and wineries. 

CSWA's recognizes comparable vineyard programs, allowing certified wineries to source certified grapes from other programs.

Step-by-step guide CCSW training for hospitality and sales staff. 

A PDF version of the presentation for the April 20, 2023 Communicating Sustainability Webinar.

Guide for winery staff to communicate their sustainability and CCSW certification.

California Sustainable Winegrowing Ambassador Course post-course worksheet.

Template to help winery staff create talking points on their sustainability certifications. 

Slides to use or modify for presentations about CCSW to employees, trade and other stakeholders.

FAQs about the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing program for winery hospitality, communications and sales staff, and wine trade. 

Signate template for certification participants to customize and print for use in tasting rooms and at events.  

Tips for how to incorporate sustainability messages into your communications strategy. 

This tool helps growers and vintners evaluate the potential benefits and investments associated with the first year of certification.

Learn about the benefits of being Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing certified. 

A two page overview of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing program. 

A one-hour free certification course offering an overview about sustainable practices in California vineyards and wineries.

CSWA has developed a new interactive timeline that documents the commitment and accomplishments that earned the California wine industry its reputation as global leaders in sustainability.

Guide for Custom Crush Wineries and their clients.

This 2021 Certification Report details major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and certified vineyards and wineries. 

2021 Certified California Sustainable Annual Report - Appendix 

Modify the template to create a sustainable purchasing policy. 

A factsheet on planting hedgerows.

CSWA introduced the online Performance Metrics tool to complement its Sustainable Winegrowing Program.

Three California wineries use the DIY Energy Audit Tool and share how it helped them improve.

This tool provides compliance resources and outlines which environmental permits and licenses apply to vineyards and wineries.

This document is an excerpt from the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Workbook (4th Edition) and includes educational boxes that cover climate smart practices. 

A Roadmap to Address Climate Challenges and Build Resiliency.

Learn how to use the tool to create an Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plan to comply with the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program in the Central Valley (Region 5). 

This handout features the highlights from the 2nd U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit held virtually April 2021. 

This report produced by California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) shows broad participation in our educational and certification programs, and wide implementation of sustainable practices in vineyards and wineries around the state.

This document contains links to resources, trainings, and online courses on DEI, Harassment, Prejudice, Implicit Bias, Anti-Racism and other topics. 

This webinar demonstrates how to use the interactive tool and how to comply with the 2021 Statewide Winery General Order. 

The largest winegrowing states in the U.S.—California, Oregon, New York and Washington—have established educational and certification sustainability programs. 

Checklist to reduce winery and vineyard fire risk.

A webinar held May 24, 2021 focused on wildfire preparedness for vineyards and wineries. Other topics include available grants for wildfire prevention and preparedness, and insurance issues related to wildfires.

A slide deck outlining CalFIRE Grants from the May 24, 2021 webinar on Wildfire Preparedness. 

A slide deck on preparing vineyards for wildfire, presented in a May 24, 2021 webinar by Rich Casale, CalFIRE. 

Marketers and Wineries discuss marketing strategies.

This video features a DEI session with an introduction by Bill Sweat and remarks by Elaine Chukan Brown. 

 Day 3 video of the U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit held on April 21, 2021.

This recording is from Part 1 of Day 2 of our 2021 U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit held on April 20, 2021.

This recording features the tasting and seminar of Day 1 of the 2nd U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit held on April 19, 2021.

This interactive online tool is designed to help California wineries identify and address their water management needs.

This tool assists growers in the Central Valley (Region 5) in complying with the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program.

This tutorial video demonstrates use of the online Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plan (INMP) Regulatory Reporting Tool.

Use this handout and the worksheets from the Wine Institute website which are provided to guide inventories for water use.

Requirements to enable SIP Certified and LODI RULES Vineyards to become CCSW.

This handout contains resources on DEI, Bias, Microaggression, Non-Racist vs. Anti-Racist, and training programs.

This 2020 Certification Report details major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and certified vineyards and wineries. The 2020 report marks the 10-year anniversary of the program's launch.

A Healthy Soils Webinar

This 10 minute video explains how to use the DIY Winery Energy Audit Tool.

Worksheet to identify, implement and manage energy efficiency opportunities within a winery. 

An interview with Steve McIntyre on organic, biodynamic and sustainable practices.

This document contains the slides from a webinar held on June 5, 2020, on Consumer and Trade Perceptions of Sustainable Wine which featured research conducted by Christian Miller of Full Glass Research and Lulie Halstead of Wine Intelligence. 

This handout features the highlights from the inaugural US Sustainable Winegrowing Summit held in Sonoma County, CA in 2019. 

Complete the questionnaire to help meet the certification prerequisite for 2-2 Environmental Compliance Planning.

The compiled PowerPoint slides from the 2020 Certified Participant Webinar.

This template can be completed to fulfill the action plan requirement, or participants can choose to use another written format that suits their needs.

Metrics guidance document that includes details on what needs to be measured, recorded and calculated to meet the metrics requirement.

This document contains the CCSW red and yellow listed (prohibited and/or restricted) crop protection materials.

Complete this form when using crop protection materials from the yellow list. 

The following template serves as a guide to assist growers in creating a customized management plan that addresses air quality and climate change.  This template is primarily relevant to Chapter 16 “Air Quality” of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing.  

This checklist helps ensure your continued certification year after year.

Complete the questionnaire to help meet the certification prerequisite for 2-2 Environmental Compliance Planning.

The following template serves as a guide to assist growers in creating a customized management plan that addresses air quality and climate change. This template is primarily relevant to Chapter 16 “Air Quality” of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing.

The following template serves as a guide to assist growers in creating a customized Integrated Pest Management Plan. This template is primarily relevant to Chapter 6 “Pest Management” of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing.

This report is an annual benchmark of major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and certified vineyards and wineries.

CSWA and partner organizations from New York, Oregon and Washington commissioned Wine Intelligence to conduct research on consumer perceptions of sustainable winegrowing in 2019. 

This video captures the grower perspective on sustainable winegrowing...

Learn how Bargetto Winery utilized CSWA’s free Solid Waste Audit tool to better manage each of their waste streams.

This video explores what the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing wine logo represents. 

This report is an annual benchmark of major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and certified vineyards and wineries.

Tips on preparing your vineyard for winter.

Learn about proper culvert design and placement and protect against erosion. 

Learn how to protect vineyard properties from erosion and prepare for winter.

An interview with Marissa Lange on her family's commitment to sustainability.

An interview with Haley Duncan on LEED Certification at her family's Silver Oak Winery.

Instructions for how to use the CSWA Third-Party Program Farm Plan Template for Region 2 Water Board.

The CSWA Farm Plan Template is based on the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Workbook, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, and the LandSmart® for Vineyards Farm Plan, Version 4.0.

An interview with Harry Wetzel, IV of Alexander Valley Vineyard on raising chickens and bees.

An interview with KG Vineyard Management on their employee and community engagement. 

An educational campaign for consumers about California farmers. 

Claudio Ponte discussing their usage of the certification logo on the bottle.

An interview with father and son Jerry and Steve Lohr of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. 

This worksheet develops a water use inventory for the winery.

La Crema measures water usage and identifies hotspots via a Water Facility Balance. 

In field Distribution Uniformity Testing

Uniformidad Distribución (DU) es importante para la calidad de uvas de vino.

Mira un video para aprender como llevar a cabo una prueba de campo de uniformidad distribución 

An interview with David Glancy, MS, CWE, of the San Francisco Wine School.

Aprende a realizar una prueba de campo de la uniformidad de distribución de riego en viñedos.

This report is an annual benchmark of major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and certified vineyards and wineries.

An interview with Cameron Parry of Groth Vineyards on healthy soils and grape and wine quality.

Fundraising event The Grateful Table: raised funds for victims of the North Bay wildfires.

In 2017, CSWA underwent an extensive oversight evaluation of CCSW by a third party, SCS Global Services. 

Brian Tally of Tally Vineyards on employee retention, workplace culture, and a successful CSA.

Teri Kerns of Ramona Ranch Vineyards & Winery on her new certification.

An interview with Brian Streeter on the farm-to-table meals his team delivers.

Video instruction for the Dust Mitigation Methods Comparison Tool.

Tutorial for the Sprayer Decision Tool

An interview with the developers of the Master Vigneron Academy in Lake County.

This tool can be used to create a cost efficient dust control strategy to protect air quality. 

Instructional video for the Trunk Disease Management Tool.

Compare the financial cost of air blast dilute sprayers and electrostatic sprayers.

Spottswoode President Beth Novak on extensive creek restoration.

Interview on the winery's leadership in obtaining sustainability certification.

An interview with Robin Baggett of Alpha Omega on thier solar power microgrid. 

An interview with Christian Miller on the wine trade's view of sustainability.

An interview with David Gates, Jr. of Ridge Vineyards on wise water use.

Use this tool to estimate the volume of solid waste generated at your winery and identify opportunities for reduction. 

A  demonstration of the Vineyard Sustainable Water Management Tool. 

A winery explains the value of being CCSW. 

Tool for assessing energy-consuming processes and ways to reduce energy consumption. 

A brief overview of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing program in a printable, postcard format.

Learn about CSWA’s Economic Tools for assessing the costs and benefits of sustainable winegrowing.

Use this tool to identify the highest water using activities to understand where water is being used throughout the winery.

Learn how to conduct a distribution uniformity (DU) test.

Use this tool to create an effective sustainable water management strategy that helps save both water and money. 

Learn about trunk disease prevention practices and tools that enables growers to compare long-term cost savings from early adoption.

An excel based scouting template and a handout on identifying and treating hot spots, and using economic thresholds.

Researchers and winegrowers discuss trunk disease and prevention.

A demonstration of the Winery Water Efficiency and Hot Spots Tool and the Water Budgeting Tool.

An excel weed scouting template and handout to help growers assess and identify their weeds.

A video demonstration of the Solid Waste Audit. 

This tool estimates current cost of water, including the costs of acquiring water, using the water, and disposing of that water. 

Experts discuss steps to reduce risk from fires.

Conducting regular Distribution Uniformity tests for grape quality. 

This video tutorial provides a demonstration of the Certification Cost Benefit Evaluation Tool. 

Use this web-based tool to assess the costs and economic benefits of implementing vine disease preventative practices.

This tool evaluates the expected benefits and investments associated with the first year of certification. 

A video on how to conduct a Distribution Uniformity test and how to use CSWA's field data sheet template to easily calculate your vineyard's DU.

An interview with Rodney Strong winegrower Ryan Decker on mitigating risk. 

Silver Mountain Vineyard founder Jerold O'Brien on solar panels and organic farming.

An interview with HALL President Mike Reynolds on LEED Gold Certification.

Learn how to prepare your winery or facility and your employees for an earthquake to mitigate risks.

An interview with Karl Wente on the family's 133 year old enterprise.

Learn how sustainable winegrowing practices can help to mitigate risk in the vineyard.

Tablas Creek's Jason Haas on their winery's involvement in the community.

Bronco Wine Company's Jose "Junior" Robles on the use of owls to manage rodents.

An interview with Halter Ranch's Lucas Pope on restoration and water conservation.

Katie Jackson of Jackson Family Wines discussing their leadership in sustainability.

John Concannon of Concannon Winery on the impact of sustainability on wine quality.

Viticulturist Dave Terry of Laetitia Vineyards Winery discusses cover crops.

The California wine community's third major report benchmarking sustainability practices was released January 2016. The report is published every five years. 

Aprenda cómo las prácticas vitivinícolas sostenibles pueden ayudar a mitigar el riesgo en el viñedo, la bodega y el mercado.

An overview of the California Sustainable Winegrowing program (SWP).

2016 research, commissioned by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), shows that a majority of the U.S. wine trade considers sustainability when making purchasing decisions and expects demand to increase over the next decade.

Vineyard manager Dirk Heuvel of McManis on their employee practices.

A worksheet for evaluating distribution uniformity in your vineyard drip irrigation system. 

This month features Julie Nord of Nord Vineyard Services discussing community engagement, employee practices, and cover crops.

This month features Green Medal Winner Benziger Family Winery discussing biodiversity and the deployment of sheep in their vineyard. 

This month features Kent Mann, vice president of operations for Trinchero's Lodi facility, discussing innovations in packaging and labeling.

This month features Vineyard Manager Chris Hammell of Bien Nacido Vineyards discussing water management and conservation. 

This month features an interview with Fetzer's sustainability manager, Josh Prigge discussing sustainability practices, employee engagement, and solid waste management.

The CSWA Highlights Newsletter features why three vintners chose to self-assess their operations for sustainability through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) program and how they have benefited.

This resource provides a set of tools to achieve goals for sustainable management of winery source water and process water.

A summary of the results and recommendations stemming from a study of California wine's carbon footprint.

This edition of the CSWA Highlights Newsletter features the following: trade and consumer survey results, three wineries' examples of how they communicate their sustainable practices to the public, and practical tips for communicating sustainable practices.

A case study of water and energy conservation efforts in the vineyards of E. & J. Gallo Winery. (Note: See Companion Video)

A case study of the renewable energy and energy efficient applications at LangeTwins Winery & Vineyards. (Note: See Companion Video).

A case study of improving pump efficiency on the vineyard and conserving water and energy. (Note: See Companion Video).

J. Lohr vineyard and winery employees conserve water.

A discussion of the importance and financial benefit of pump efficiency.

A case study of the energy conservation goals met by the implementation of high speed roll-up doors at J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery. (Note: See Companion Video)

Trinchero Family Estates manages their waste responsibly at their St. Helena facility.

A case study of William Selyem Winery  implemeting solar thermal heating system to reduce energy costs for heating water used for cleaning and sanitizing. (Note: See Companion Video)

A case study of historic Asti Winery's application of energy efficient sustainability measures. (Note: See Companion Video).

Pipeline Inspection Gauges (PIGs) save money, help conserve water and reduce energy.

The benefits of on-farm biodiversity...

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) report on the level of adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices in California every 5 years, beginning with the first report in 2004 and a subsequent report in 2009.

Boisset Family Estates discusses the importance of tracking metrics.

This edition of the CSWA Highlights Newsletter features the business and environmental benefits of sustainability at Coppola Winery, Terra d'Oro, and Stags' Leap. 

A case study of using Pipeline Inspection Gauges to reduce water use and associated energy consumption at wineries. (Note: See Companion Video)

Historic Asti Winery retrofits building with energy saving design.

A discussion of vineyard practices that reduce GHGs.

Experts and others discuss Fuel Cells.

Fuel Cells are a reliable, efficient and stable energy source that offer many benefits.

Winegrowers discuss the SWP self-assessment tool. 

Turner Road Vintners preserves wetlands for wildlife.

New aerator system results in multiple improvements.

Free energy efficient design assistance saves money in several ways.

Winery uses solar heated water for cleaning and sanitizing.

Gallo Vineyards improves water infrastructure and gains effeciency.

Variable Frequency Drives reduce energy use.

Winery implements refrigeration and pipe insulation and more.

High-speed roll up doors save in CO2 emissions.

Covers the many ways California wineries and vineyards give back to their community. 

Three case studies on precision farming, weather stations and owl boxes.

The inaugural debut of CSWA's certification program. 

CSWA's new metrics and case studies: Vineyard 29, Simi Winery, and Vineyard Professional Services.

CSWA, Wine Institute and CAWG present its second major report measuring the level of sustainable practices among vintners and growers on a statewide basis. The report contains evaluation results collected from over 200 workshop and represents vineyard and winery assessment results for about 62% percent of the California's 240 million case production and 68% of its 526,000 wine acres.

A summary report of a literature review used to determine what was known about California vineyard GHG production and sequestration potential.

An interpretation of a 2008 survey of the California wine industry, which aimed to identify motivations and constraints for the adoption of sustainable practices, perceived impacts of the practices, and the effectiveness of the Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP).

A short summary of the key management practices that influence carbon sequestration and GHG emissions in the vineyard.

A case study of biodiversity practices in vineyard sites in the California North Coast.

This guide provides a set of tools to achieve goals for sustainable management of all aspects of winery water use in larger wineries.

CSWA released its first interim progress report in December 2006 to highlight the program's accomplishments since the 2004 statewide report was published. 

CSWA, Wine Institute and CAWG present its first report measuring the level of sustainable practices among vintners and growers. The evaluation results represent about 40 percent of the California's 260 million case production and 25 percent of its 529,000 wine acres.

This guide provides info on how to develop your values statement and best practices for good neighbor and community relations.