The Sustainable Winegrowing Program and the Alliance was initiated by winegrowing members of Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) to promote vineyard and winery practices that are sensitive to the environment, responsive to the needs and interests of society-at-large, and economically feasible to implement and maintain.

Together they developed the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices workbook as the basis for the Sustainable Winegrowing Program, providing a tool for vintners and growers to assess their practices and learn how to improve their overall sustainability.

Participants self-assess their vineyards and wineries and voluntarily contribute data to measure adoption of sustainable practices. There is no third party certification.

The long-term mission for the Sustainable Winegrowing Program includes:

• Establishing voluntary high standards of sustainable practices to be followed and maintained by the entire wine community
• Enhancing winegrower-to-winegrower and vintner-to-vintner education on the importance of sustainable practices and how self-governing will enhance the economic viability and future of the wine community
• Demonstrating how working closely with neighbors, communities and other stakeholders to maintain an open dialogue can address concerns, enhance mutual respect, and accelerate results.

The vision of the Sustainable Winegrowing Program is the long-term sustainability of the California wine community. To place the concept of sustainability into the context of winegrowing, the program defines sustainable winegrowing as growing and winemaking practices that are sensitive to the environment (Environmentally Sound), responsive to the needs and interests of society-at-large (Socially Equitable), and are economically feasible to implement and maintain (Economically Feasible). The combination of these three principles is often referred to as the three "E's" of sustainability (see Figure below). Sustainability as defined by the three overlapping principles of Environmentally Sound, Economically Feasible and Socially Equitable.

This program is guided by the following set of sustainability values:

• Produce the best quality winegrapes and wine possible
• Provide leadership in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.
• Maintain the long-term viability of agricultural lands.
• Support the economic and social wellbeing of farm and winery employees.
• Respect and communicate with neighbors and community members; respond to their concerns in a considerate manner.
• Enhance local communities through job creation, supporting local business and actively working on important community issues.
• Honor the California wine community's entrepreneurial spirit.
• Support research and education as well as monitor and evaluate existing practices to expedite continual improvements.

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Program is based on the same sustainability principles as FIVS, which lends international credibility to the California program.

Other programs that embrace the FIVS international sustainability principles include:

• the Integrated Production of Wine (South Africa)
• Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
• the Australian Wine Industry Stewardship Programme.

All these sustainable winegrowing programs incorporate the same principles of satisfying the triple bottom line of economic, environmental and social sustainability, among other sustainability principles as described in the FIVS Global Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Principles (GWSESP) Brochure.

*FIVS is a trade association for all sectors of the alcohol beverage industry, founded in 1951. Its members include producers, distributors, importers, exporters, and trade associations from around the world.

From the California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance website: http://www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/aboutswp.php. Retrieved June 14, 2008.