California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance - CSWA

10/02/2026

Last week, CSWA joined California W**es for "Eureka! A California W**e Experience" during Climate Week NYC, where nearly 250 trade guests gathered to connect with producers advancing sustainable and climate-smart w**egrowing throughout California.

The CSWA team poured featured w**es from California Green Medal Award winners during the walk-around tasting and hosted a sustainability-focused seminar, "Taste & Learn: California's Commitment to Climate-Smart W**egrowing." Forty guests joined the session to learn about California’s leadership in sustainable agriculture from Allison Jordan, Executive Director of CSWA, and Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Following these opening remarks, three vintners shared their sustainability initiatives, followed by a trade panel discussing how to effectively communicate these climate-smart efforts to consumers.

A big thank you to our featured seminar speakers:
● Dana Nigro, North America Regional Editor, Decanter
● Caroline Merrell, Sr. Director, Sustainable W**emaking, Jackson Family W**es
● Cynthia Lohr, Co-owner and Chief Brand Officer, J. Lohr Vineyards & W**es
● Joan Kautz, Global Sales & Marketing, Ironstone Vineyards and Kautz Family Vineyards
● Sam Lipin, Sommelier, The Noortwyck
● Secretary Karen Ross, California Department of Food and Agriculture
● Valerie Pimpinelli, General Manager and W**e Buyer, Flatiron W**es & Spirits

See the link in the comments for a full event recap!

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08/28/2026

Establishing a dry farmed vineyard starts with watering vines on a gradual schedule to encourage deep, strong root development. By year three, these root systems can typically thrive without irrigation. Dry farmer Lauren Pesch shares how this method works.

Find the link to the complete video and more information about this project in the comments!

08/17/2026

Every 5 years, we measure how sustainable practices are scaling across California w**e. The 2025 results are officially in.

The California Sustainable W**egrowing Alliance (CSWA) has released the 2025 California W**e Community Sustainability Report.
Read the full report via the link in the comments!

Key takeaways from the report:

• 70% of California w**egrape acreage is now certified sustainable.
• 90%+ of California w**e is produced in a certified sustainable w**ery.
• Improvements were recorded in 65% of vineyard criteria and 53% of w**ery criteria over the last 5 years.

From soil health to community impact, California growers and vintners continue to turn sustainability commitments into measurable action.

02/10/2026

Honored to share some meaningful news from Paris! 🇫🇷✈️

The Calfiornia Sustainable W**egrowing Alliance (CSWA) has received the 2026 V d’Or Award for Best Sustainability Initiative, presented on the eve of W**e Paris. 🏆🍷

The award recognizes CSWA’s Climate Action Toolkit as one of the most impactful and responsible initiatives in the global w**e and spirits industry, helping w**egrowers and vintners identify and prioritize climate risks while turning commitment into action. 🌍

This honor reflects decades of work in California to make sustainability practical and resilient — shaped by dozens of growers, vintners, and experts to support long-term stewardship. 🍇🚜 We’re proud that this work is rooted in California but available to anyone, anywhere. 📍🌎

Grateful to our fellow nominees, the partners who helped build the Toolkit, and Vinexposium for the recognition. Huge congratulations to Allison Jordan, executive director of CSWA, and her team on this tremendous achievement! 🎉👏

Watch Allison's acceptance speech here:
https://vimeo.com/1163732772

🔗 cswatoolkit.org

11/12/2025

The 2026 California Green Medal Application is Open!

California is widely recognized as a leader in sustainable w**egrowing, thanks to its forward-thinking vineyards and w**eries setting the standard for environmental stewardship, being a good neighbor and employer and innovative and sustainable business practices. Now in its 12th year, the California Green Medal Sustainable W**egrowing Leadership Awards is the state's highest recognition for sustainability excellence within the w**e industry. Deadline is February 6, 2026. Apply TODAY to gain recognition for your commitment to a sustainable future.

👉 Apply Now at greenmedal.org/apply

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10/06/2025

📢 New Must-Have Resource for the W**e Industry! 🍷🍇
Ready to turn climate concerns into climate action?

The California Sustainable W**egrowing Alliance has launched its new Climate Action Toolkit—a comprehensive, living resource designed to meet every grower and vintner whether they are just beginning to grapple with climate action or already have a plan in place.

Developed with an advisory group of industry leaders, scientists, and professionals, this toolkit provides actionable, step-by-step guidance on critical areas, including:

* Why climate action is essential for navigating current and future impacts.
* Identifying and prioritizing climate-smart practices for your Climate Action Plan.
* Implementing practices across your vineyard, w**ery, and supply chain.
* Engaging your teams, suppliers, and consumers.
* Tracking progress and evolving strategies over time.

Stop grappling and start acting. This resource is ready to help you future-proof your business.

Visit the toolkit at:
www.cswatoolkit.org

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09/17/2025

California W**es is thrilled to partner with the Sustainability in Drinks (SID) conference on October 21st in London! This is a must-attend event for the drinks industry, featuring over 40 expert speakers, including California's own Allison Jordan from the California Sustainable W**egrowing Alliance.
Join us to learn and connect. Get 25% off your ticket with code SID25 at sustainabilityindrinks.com.

05/15/2025

Growing W**e with Less Water: Insights from the Dry Farming Workshop

Last week at Emeritus Vineyards, a group of growers and vintners walked the rows of Hallberg Ranch and explored how a once-irrigated vineyard is now thriving with dry farming — no irrigation, just deep roots and healthy soils. At this workshop hosted by the California Sustainable Wingrowing Alliance, an incredible panel of growers from Sonoma, Mendocino, Paso Robles and Napa shared their experiences adapting to water scarcity while improving vineyard health and w**e quality. From rootstock selection and soil management to the art of cultivating patience, every conversation was a masterclass in working with nature, not against it. The workshop ended with a delicious tasting of dry-farmed w**es from Dominus, Frog’s Leap, Tablas Creek, Mariah Vineyards, and Emeritus Vineyards. A BIG thanks to our panelists, w**emakers, and everyone who joined us to learn, taste, and connect. Together, we're cultivating a more sustainable future for California w**e. 🌞

**e **e **egrowers

04/22/2025

Learn how Emeritus Vineyards transitioned a once irrigated vineyard to a dry farmed vineyard during a walking vineyard tour of Hallberg Ranch. Listen to an expert panel of growers who dry farm in diverse regions covering Sonoma, Mendocino, Paso Robles and Napa who will discuss the range of soils and microclimates that are suitable for dry farming w**egrapes when specific techniques are used. Taste dry farmed w**e in a unique walk around tasting featuring six w**eries who share their specific terroir through their dry farmed grapes.

Panel Participants
Michael Frey, Mariah Vineyards
Riggs Lokka, Emeritus Vineyards
Jordan Lonborg,Coastal Vineyard Care Associates
Tod Mostero, Dominus W**ery

W**e Tasting Participants
Condor’s Hope Vineyard (Santa Barbara)
Dominus W**ery (Napa)
Emeritus Vineyards (Sonoma)
Frog's Leap W**ery W**ery (Napa)
Mariah Vineyards (Mendocino)
Tablas Creek Vineyard (Paso Robles)

REGISTER: https://cswa.typeform.com/to/ks8x6c02?typeform-source=sustainablew**egrowing.org

04/04/2025

It's official! The 2025 California Green Medal winners have been announced! Congratulations to our winners:

Leader Award: Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & W**ery

Environment Award: CHANDON

Community Award: Jordan Vineyard & W**ery

Business Award: Nuveen Natural Capital

The California Green Medal is presented by:

California Sustainable W**egrowing Alliance - CSWA, California Association of W**egrape Growers, W**e Institute, Lodi W**egrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners, Napa Green, Sonoma County W**egrowers and Vineyard Team.

The 2025 Judging Panel consisted of:

Allison Jordan, executive director, California Sustainable W**egrowing Alliance; Anna Brittain, executive director, Napa Green; Beth Vukmanic, executive director, Vineyard Team; Christopher Chen, integrated vineyard systems advisor, UC Cooperative Extension — North Coast; Cyril Penn, editor-in-chief, W**e Business Monthly; Erin Coburn, co-owner, minimo; Jennifer (Richards) Dieckmann, VP of operations and business development, Sonoma County W**egrowers; Kate Venugopal, director of international marketing, W**e Institute; Natalie Collins, president, California Association of W**egrape Growers; Richard Morley, co-founder, FirstPour and Stephanie Bolton, research and education director, Lodi W**egrape Commission

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WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR ELEVENTH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA GREEN MEDAL: SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING LEADERSHIP AWARDS LEADER AWARD, given to the vineyard or w**ery that excels…