VASCM: Sustainability Self-Assessment Workshop in Aptos Next Wednesday

[Mary Lindsay]

  Reminder:  The Wine Institute's
Sustainability Self-Assessment Workshop: June 27, 1:00pm in Aptos (at 
the SeaCliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Ct.)

This workshop is for:
? Growers and winery operators who have already done the self-assessment 
- there are new topics & it may be time to update your assessment, and
? those who have not done the self-assessment.

There is no charge. Lunch at noon. RSVP required: Call Britta Purcell at 
the Wine Institute, 415-512-0151  or email to bpurcell at wineinstitute.org 
.  Reservations will be accepted up until the workshop by contacting 
Britta directly.

Morning sessions starting at 8:45am address tasting room topics, direct 
shipping laws and new legislation affecting winery operations.  

More About The Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices
And The Operations Assessment Workshop

Sustainability for vineyard and winery operations is good business 
practice, resulting in economic benefits and improved quality and 
operations. Sustainability addresses the pressures of growing grapes and 
making wine in an urban environment, meeting increasing population 
demands, legal, environmental and other requirements, while still 
producing a quality product. You can benefit from improved grape and 
wine quality, reduced costs, increased real estate and business values 
and viability, enhanced relations with your neighbors, community and 
employees. The Wine Institute and CAWG (California Association of 
Winegrape Growers) developed a Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices 
to encourage and educate winegrape growers and winery managers in 
sustainability strategies, and created the California Sustainable 
Winegrowing Alliance to implement the program.

This workshop is an opportunity for you to learn about the best 
practices implemented by other growers and wineries, the benefits of 
sustainability, and how you can apply them to improve your farming or 
winery operations. Workshop participants receive a free 500-page 
self-assessment workbook covering a broad range of operational topics 
including: soil management, pest management, ecosystems management, 
water and energy conservation, materials handling, human resources and 
community relations.

The workbook serves as a valuable tool for you during the workshop to 
identify strengths and areas for improvement in your operations. An 
instructor from the Sustainability Alliance conducts the seminar.

Sustainable practices have been adopted by major wineries in regions 
throughout the state, and have become the focus of a current public 
relations campaign launched by CAWG.

More information on sustainability and the workshop at
www.wineinstitute.org or www.sustainablewinegrowing.org