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Certified Sustainable Vineyards & Sustainable Wines
In only two years, we're proud to announce 11,000 acres are SIP™ Certified. (This is a three-fold increase in certified acreage from the inaugural 2008 vintage.)
With 116,000 cases of SIP™ Certified wines representing an assortment of brands and varieties, wine lovers will be able to support companies certifying their care of the land and the people and Sip the Good Life.
Erin Amaral
Paragon Vineyard and Firepeak Vineyard
Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County (Farmed by Pacific Vineyard Company)
Erin leaves her house before the sun comes up to cycle ten miles to work. After a long day in the vineyard, she rides home again. Erin has worked in vineyards for ten years and says she has been able to witness a significant and meaningful shift in vineyard management and farming philosophies. As she spurs the implementation of progressive and sustainable farming practices and participates in the latest pest management research, she enjoys watching the vineyard flourish with new life including raptors, quail, and native vegetation.
Lino Bozzano & Craig Wynn
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
Arroyo Grande Valley, San Luis Obispo County
Nestled in the Arroyo Grande Valley, Laetitia Vineyard and Winery boasts a unique menagerie lead by Lino Bozzano, Vineyard Manager, and Craig Winn, Lead Viticulturist. In an effort to fight weeds and fire, the 600 plus acres of winegrapes have become home to more than 50 sheep, 100 goats, and last, but most certainly not least, Lucky the llama. Laetitia has also made a commitment to use bio-fuel for its entire fleet of tractors. This impressive feat helped make this sustainable alternative more available for like-minded locals. A Cal Poly graduate, Lino has been involved with CCVT as a project grower biologically integrated farming project. Craig, a UC Irvine medical student graduate, has made his way down the coast, working with different agriculture certification programs like Fish Friendly Farming. When not in the vineyard, you can find Lino and Craig taking part in “board” meetings in the waves at Shell Beach.
Kathy D'Andrea
D' Anbino Vineyards & Cellars
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
Kathy has always been engaged in CCVT's programs, and when the opportunity arose, they jumped at the chance to be a pilot certified vineyard. They are most proud of engaging the entire vineyard family in all aspects of decision making and implementation on the farm. Gardens with record high corn stalks and spicy hot peppers, enjoyed by the farmworkers and their families, represents one way to creating a sense of community in their operation. Check out the blog for more info about the D'Andrea and Rubino family connection and unique musical history that includes a few Grammys.
Amy Freeman
Saucelito Canyon Vineyards & Winery
Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County
What could be more sustainable than a 125 year old vineyard? Amy is most proud of the continuing care of the zinfandel vines that have been through almost everything (from drought to wildfire) and stewarding this special piece of California history. Even though they sell out their case production every year, she feels strongly about being respectful to the environment, soil and vine health, and the community. By certifying this special vineyard, she's able to show her commitment to leaving a small footprint and to improve conditions wherever possible. And while farming makes her nervous because of the never ending, uncontrollable variables (weather, foxes, bears, yellow jackets), this trained winemaker enjoys the facing the farming challenges.
Robert Hall
Robert Hall Winery
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
Robert Hall heartily believes that great wine comes from healthy soil. When Robert moved to Paso Robles in 1997, he had a feeling his vineyard was special. From the ancient oaks on the property to the simple magic of a vineyard, Robert made a commitment to protect, diversify, and sustain. He feels strongly that what is good for the ground is good for the grapes. This philosophy even carries over to his winemaker who can be found in the vineyard every day. So if you can’t find Robert on the road, simply look to the vineyard; that’s where the wine starts.
Bill Hammond
Jackson Family Wine Estates Panorama Ranch
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
Probably one of the most recognizable names in the pilot program, Bill has been farming with Jackson Family Wine Estates for over a decade. This particular vineyard has a 4x3 planting -- which means really tight rows and vine spacing. All the old farming rules are out the window, not to mention that off-the-shelf equipment doesn't work here. Irrigation? Fertility? Harvesting? Everything here is very customized for the unique planting. Bill says that in terms of sustainability, he's not necessarily farming differently, but instead is able to do a better job of working towards the vision he had a decade ago. And through practicing sustainability programs throughout the company, Jackson Family Wine estates can tread lightly over a large area, which means a big overall impact.
John Hilliard & Christine Bruce
Hilliard Bruce Vineyard
Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County
John Hilliard and Christine Bruce are a couple of many talents and varied experiences. Their previous lives involved playing professional keyboard in various R&B and Jazz bands, raising Arabian horses, running a family shipyard business, and being master gardeners. Their love of landscape, art, and gardening brought them to the vineyard as they retired. They planted their 21 acre vineyard in 2004 and were thrilled when the opportunity arose to evaluate their farming practices with the SIP Certification Standards. As John says, “Certification showed us how to turn our good intentions into actions.”
Dana Merrill
Pomar Junction Vineyard
Templeton, San Luis Obispo County
Representing the 7th generation of a 8th-generation farming family, Dana is a founding member of the Vineyard Team and helped spread the word of "sustainability" before it was popular in typical agriculture circles. He has a long history of managing properties for others, so the Merrill family-owned Pomar Junction Vineyard represents their way to stay connected to the land and continue their ag legacy. From participating in the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems project to researching issues affecting water quality, his innovation has raised the bar of the farming culture throughout the region.
Andy Mitchell
Hahn Estates
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
Andy originally dreamed of being a Park Ranger when he graduated with a degree in Natural Resources Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Though he never did get to work in forestry, he has been able to put his degree to good use managing the vineyards and surrounding conserved habitat areas at Hahn Estates. Andy has been farming in California for over 24 years including orchards, table grapes, and now wine grapes. After spending many seasons in the vineyard, he now takes photographs year round. As he says, “If it’s in, on, or around the vineyard, I’ll shoot it”.
Rich Smith
Paraiso Vineyards
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
With the district’s first plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the Paraiso home estate in the early 1970s, the Smiths have a thirty-five year history of conscientious stewardship of the land. A founding member of the CCVT, the Smiths have been innovators in identifying and putting into practice the now official sustainability protocols. Paraiso’s programs rely heavily on employee education and participation – at Paraiso, every associate is a vineyard “scout,” trained to identify potential problems and opportunities. Rich comments that “We marshal our human resources to preserve and improve our natural resources; as a company, we are constantly learning how to better farm for the future. Now into raising our third generation of Smiths here in the Highlands, “sustainable” is not just a buzzword, it’s an important responsibility that’s part of everything we do."
Niels Udsen
Castoro Cellars
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
Niels Udsen, known as “beaver” in his youth, has been committed to progressive farming practices since 1994. His Westside Paso Robles vineyards are certified organic or transitional. He chose to certify his eastside Paso Robles vineyards as sustainable to compare the two farming methods. He and his wife live in and around their vineyards, so they are directly impacted by the daily vineyard operations. If you can’t find Niels in the vineyard, you’ll probably find him surfing, skiing, or hiking somewhere fabulous.
Jean-Pierre Wolff
Wolff Vineyards
Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County
While his name might suggest, Jean-Pierre's Belgian and French roots instilled a culture where wine was considered part of a good meal and family gatherings. What you probably don't know, is that Jean-Pierre's PhD in Applied Engineering has allowed him to use his engineering background to research, teach and consult. With an inquisitive nature and experimental mindset, he is known for farming "outside of the box". He says that if you're not failing once in a while, you're probably not pushing the envelope enough. He's most proud of his creek restoration projects in connection with a downstream steelhead trout improvement projects, converting to dry farming on portions of his vineyard, an instilling a deep respect for the land in their family operation.
Peter Work
Ampelos Cellars
Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County
Originally from Denmark and a graduate from Princeton University, Peter is dedicated to sustainable farming and living (the Work family lists tips for healthy living on their website). After years of travel, long hours in corporate America, and the tragedy of 9-11, Peter and his wife, Rebecca decided to leave the concrete jungle behind and pursue a lifelong dream of living and working on a vineyard. The entire Work family is involved in the daily operations of the vineyard and winery, including two brown Labrador Retrievers.
Mitch Wyss
Halter Ranch
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
Satisfying his inherent need to be outside, Mitch Wyss has worked as a salmon fisherman in Alaska, a whitewater outfitter, a canoe guide, and a whale-watching guide in Baja California before he made his way to Halter Ranch Vineyard. Responsible for this beautiful 250-acre vineyard, Mitch carefully attends to the 19 varieties of wine grapes grown on the estate. Preservation of the historic ranch buildings dating back to the 19th century is central to the mission at Halter Ranch. The property is dotted with old barns, sheds and a beautifully restored Victorian farm house. Also home to what could be the largest Coast Live Oak, designated "Ancestor", the tree is a symbol of Mitch's respect for this ranch - a very unique piece of old California.
Henry Carrasco
Chula Viña
Chualar Canyon, Monterey County
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Henry Carrasco is an agronomist and pest control advisor by trade. Driven by his love for Chualar Canyon where he has owned property since the '80s, Henry purchased 50 acres of gravelly, rolling slopes with natural springs in 1997. By 2000, with some inspiration from fellow farmer Gary Pisoni, he had decided to plant his acres in winegrapes.
As a Cal Poly graduate, Henry believes that the college’s motto “Learn by Doing” holds true in the success of Chula Viña. He traveled to Tuscany to learn their techniques in premium wine grape production and he thanks the Monterey County UC Extension for its great assistance in helping him establish the vineyard. He worked closely with CSU Monterey Bay horticulture students and various agencies to establish native hedgerows on the portions of his property not planted with vines.Students propagated the plants in the college greenhouse and assisted in selecting ideal varietals. Henry was practicing sustainability before it was fashionable and the quality shows in the premium grapes he grows for wineries from Napa Valley, Santa Clara Valley and Carmel Valley.
Karl and Sue Luft
Luft Vineyard
Templeton, San Luis Obispo County
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Karl and Sue Luft have always been conscious of environmental issues. From Sue’s participation in the Ecology Club in fifth grade to their strawbale, solar-powered home in Templeton they strive to lessen their environmental impact. They both started out with careers in engineering, but their interest in farming brought them to winegrape growing where they have incorporated their life’s philosophy of sustainability. Their 10 acre property is split between their Zinfandel vineyard and native oak woodland. The couple’s two German Shepherd dogs even play a role ferreting out gopher holes hidden by cover crop vegetation. Karl and Sue maintain every aspect of their vineyard from pruning and thinning to irrigation and weeding. And, they have even won a couple of awards for their homemade wine.
Neil Roberts
Catherine’s Vineyard and Margarita Vineyard
Paso Robles and Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County (Farmed by Roberts Vineyard Services)
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Neil Roberts has been in the winegrape industry his entire life. He was raised in California’s Central Valley where his family farmed grapes and row crops. After graduating from Fresno State University Neil jumped right back into farming. Over the years, he has managed and consulted for vineyards from Monterey to Santa Barbara.
Steve McIntyre
McIntyre Vineyards
Gonzales, Monterey County (Farmed by Monterey Pacific Inc.)
Steve McIntyre was ready to jump into the wine industry with a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and a master’s degree in enology from Fresno State University. He started farming in Monterey in 1983 and planted Galante Vineyards in the Carmel Valley. In 1992 Steve started Monterey Pacific Inc., a Central Coast vineyard management company. He still manages and collaborates on the winemaking at the family property, McIntyre Vineyards. When not in the vineyard, Steve is a private pilot and he and his wife raise Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Paul Johnson
J&L Farms, Inc
Monterey County
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Paul Johnson has learned to manage vineyards from his father Phil, who has been farming grapes in Monterey County since the early 1970's. Paul grew up spending summers driving tractors, fixing irrigation systems and replacing broken end posts. He attended UC Santa Barbara and, staying true to his viticulture background, worked a crush at Courtside Cellars the fall after graduation. Shortly after, Paul took a position in agricultural lending where he gained invaluable experience in the finance and business side of the industry. However, he always knew that he wanted to join the family business. Today he is general manager of J&L Farms where he oversees daily farming operations and the administration of the business.
