Vineyard & Winery
SIP Certified® is based on science-backed sustainability practices, known as the Standards. You’ll use the online database to document how your vineyard and/or winery puts these practices into action.
Document Your Practices
The SIP Certified Standards cover 14 key areas of your operation, from soil health to social responsibility.
Each question in the Standards falls into one of two categories:
-
- Requirements: all of these practices must be in place to earn certification.
- Management Enhancements: sustainable farming doesn’t look the same for everyone. These questions offer flexibility. You must earn at least 50% of the points from the questions that are applicable to your operation.
Certification Timeline
Your certification year runs from December 1 to November 30.
For example, if you're applying for 2026 certification, your practices need to be in place from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026.
Applications are due Dec 1.
Applications submitted after that date will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
| Date | What’s Happening |
|---|---|
| Dec 1 | Certification cycle begins—start using approved practices |
| Mar 15 | Inspections are open Mar 15–Jul 15 |
| Jul 15 | Inspections due—complete all inspector corrections |
| August | Eligibility & invoices sent via email |
| September | Invoices due—certificates are issued after payment |
| Dec 5 |
Year-End Reports due:
|
Costs at a Glance
-
- Application: $500 Vineyard Team members/$1,000 non-members (paid to Vineyard Team).
- Licensing: tiered based on certified acreage. See table below (paid to Vineyard Team).
- $500 minimum
- 25% off Winery fees with certified Vineyard
- Inspection: 1–15 hours (based on inspection type and preparedness of applicant) at $100–$175/hour (paid to inspector).
Vineyards
| Certified Acres | $/Acre* | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0–49 | $20.00 | <25 acres = $500 min applies |
| 50–99 | $15.00 | 75 acres = $1,125 |
| 100–249 | $12.00 | 150 acres = $1,800 |
| 250–499 | $10.00 | 325 acres = $3,250 |
| 500–999 | $9.00 | 750 acres = $6,750 |
| 1,000–2,499 | $8.00 | 1,800 acres = $14,400 |
| 2,500–4,999 | $7.00 | 3,000 acres = $21,000 |
| 5,000+ | $5.00 | 6,000 acres = $30,000 |
Wineries
| Crush Volume (gal) | $/Gallon* | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0–19,999 | $0.0300 | <16,666 gal = $500 min applies |
| 20,000–39,999 | $0.0250 | 30,000 gal = $750 | $562.50 w/Vyd |
| 40,000–124,999 | $0.0200 | 90,000 gal = $1,800 | $1,350 w/Vyd |
| 125,000–199,999 | $0.0150 | 150,000 gal = $2,250 | $1,687.50 w/Vyd |
| 200,000–499,999 | $0.0100 | 300,000 gal = $3,000 | $2,250 w/Vyd |
| 500,000–999,999 | $0.0050 | 750,000 gal = $3,750 | $2,812.50 w/Vyd |
| 1,000,000–2,999,999 | $0.0025 | 1,500,000 gal = $3,750 | $2,812.50 w/Vyd |
| 3,000,000+ | $0.0020 | 4,000,000 gal = $8,000 | $6,000 w/Vyd |
Logo Guidelines
FAQ
Yes! As long as your property has been in compliance with the standards since Dec 1 (including the Prohibited Materials List) and you can complete your application and audit in time for the July 15 deadline.
Yes! We have properties in California, Oregon, and Michigan and are happy to work with you to bring SIP Certified to your area.
Contact Whitney at whitney@vineyardtem.org to get started.
Certification runs on a three-year cycle:
-
- Your first year in the program, you’ll have a Cycle 1 Full audit.
- In years two and three, you’ll have either a short Documentation-only audit or a short Documentation & Onsite audit.
- In year four, you start back at a Cycle 1 Full audit.
| Application Includes | Time Requirement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standards | Onsite | Points | To Complete (hrs) | To Inspect (hrs) | |
|
Cycle 1: |
Full (Reqs & MEs) |
Full | 100% Req 50% ME |
(new) 60–80 (renew) 20–30 |
(new) 8–15 (renew) 4–6 |
| Cycle 2 & 3: Doc-Only |
Short (Reqs only) |
n/a | 100% Req | 20–30 | 1–3 |
| Cycle 2 & 3: Doc & Onsite or Impromptu |
Short (Reqs & 3–5 MEs) |
Short | 100% Req | 20–30 | 2–4 |
For Cycle 1 Full inspections, your inspector will review all Standards questions that are marked with the handshake icon.
For cycle 2 or 3 Doc+Onsite or Impromptu inspections, your inspector will visit your property to review all questions marked “D+O.”
You can view a full list of onsite questions here.
While synthetic products are allowed, products used on certified acres must not contain materials listed on the SIP Certified Prohibited Materials List (PML) from Dec 1 of the previous year through Nov 30 of the certification year.
For example, 2025 certified vineyards cannot use prohibited materials from Dec 1, 2024 through Nov 30, 2025.
You can check out our YouTube playlist for all of the common ways you’ll be using the database.
You can also reach out to SIP Certified staff—we’re happy to hop on a video call and give you a database tour.
When you’re certified, you can give your:
-
- Certificate (tutorial: Download Certification Documents)
- Certification Letter (lists certified blocks, varieties, and acres)
- Wine Certification information (they can certify any wine made with at least 85% SIP Certified fruit):
You can also add this language to your grape contracts.
The SIP Certified Wine Finder helps people find wines made with SIP Certified grapes, the tasting rooms that pour them, and the retailers that sell them.
If you have products you’d like to see on the Wine Finder, please contact whitney@vineyardteam.org.
You can also visit the Find Members page for a full list of SIP Certified members.