VASCM: Next Program Feb. 16: Sustainability Certification & Self-Assessment, with the CA Sustainability Alliance

[Mary Lindsay, Muns Vineyard]

The next program of the VASCM will be Feb. 16, with a presentation by 
the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) on how we can 
achieve Sustainability Certification.  It will also include a 
self-assessment workshop. *

This program is for growers and wineries. It is for you even if you have 
done the self-assessment before. Certification is based on your 
self-assessments. And it is for you if you are doing this for the first 
time, or just want to find out more about sustainable practices and the 
certification program.  **

This program is free! *(details below)

The Viticulture Assn. is pleased to bring this program to our region. We 
have been promising this for almost a year, and finally found a good 
location for it, at the Loma Prieta Community Center on Summit Rd. The 
CSWA is a joint effort of CAWG and the Wine Institute, and we have 
worked with them for several years to bring sustainable programs to the 
Santa Cruz Mts.

Cooper-Garrod is the first vineyard and winery in the Santa Cruz 
Mountains to be certified.  We have invited *Bill Cooper* to come and 
talk about why they got certified, why it is important, and their 
experience.  Bill is on the Board of the California Sustainable 
Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), and was Chairman a few years ago.
**
Here are the details:

*Sustainable Winegrowing Self-Assessment Workshop and Certification Overview

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
8:30am - 1:00pm
*Registration begins at 8am; program starts at 8:30
(Lunch included. There is no charge.)

Loma Prieta Community Center
23800 Summit Rd., Los Gatos 95033
(at the Loma Prieta Elementary School)

RSVP to: Lisa Francioni, lisa at wineinstitute.org or call 415-356-7545

- Self-assessments can now be done online. If you have a laptop with 
wireless connection, bring it. You will get a password to set up your 
online account when you call to RSVP, and you can work online from the 
session.  If you do not bring a laptop, you will work from the workbook.

- If you have previously done the self-assessment:  please bring your 
binder/workbook. If you previously submitted your results, they will be 
available to you online once you set up your account.

- If you are doing this for the first time, you will get a binder at the 
session.

//
 
*8:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. *Registration, coffee and pastries.
 
*8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m.* Bill Cooper from Cooper-Garrod Vineyards will 
discuss his experience with the self-assessment process and 
certification.* *
* *
*8:45 a.m.-11:30 a.m.* Bring your laptop and complete a sustainable 
winegrowing self-assessment of your vineyard and/or winery using the 
online system.  To complete your assessment online, you must have a 
UserID and Password, which can be requested when you RSVP by February 
14. If you do not have a laptop you can complete the self-assessment 
using a hard-copy workbook. If you have a workbook, please bring it with 
the previously mailed update packet inserted. First-time participants 
will receive the workbook (no charge).

*11:30 a.m. - Noon. *Lisa Francioni, Program Manager with the California 
Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, will describe the new certification 
program, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, which is based on 
the Sustainable Winegrowing Self-Assessment Workbook, and cover the 
steps necessary to get certified.**
* *
*Noon-1 p.m.*   Lunch provided on site.**

For more information on the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices 
Self-Assessment Workbook and certification visit: 
www.sustainablewinegrowing.org <http://www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/>

Partnering organizations: *California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, 
Viticulture Association of Santa Cruz Mountains, **Wine Institute and 
the California Association of Winegrape Growers*
* * *

*Why Sustainability?*

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.