The mission of New York Sustainable Winegrowing is to advance the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of New York’s wine and grape industry through regionally defined sustainability standards, third-party certification, grower education, and stakeholder engagement. The vision of the program is to elevate New York State as a world class wine and grape region that protects the environment, conserves natural resources, and improves the lives of our stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement with the program is fundamental for its success and we appreciate your thoughts and time. If you have any suggestions on how to improve the program, please submit them using the form linked HERE.
Following the success of our pilot in 2022, the program is now open to all wineries in New York. Certification under this program is based on a grower self-assessment and third-party audit using the latest version of the VineBalance workbook. Growers who achieve this certification will be able to market their grapes as Certified Sustainable under this Program and wineries that make wine Consisting of at least 85% certified sustainable grapes will be permitted to use the program logo for special labeling and marketing.
Sustainability Program Manager
NYWGF is pleased to announce the release of VineBalance 2023 as the latest edition of New York’s statewide code of sustainable winegrowing.
October 10, 2022 | VineBalance 2023 Released |
December 30, 2022 | Completed VineBalance Due |
February – May, 2023 | In-person Audits Conducted |
Join us as we discuss the why’s & how-tos of vineyard agrichemical handling facilities – a critical part of sustainable vineyard farming. Agrichemical Handling Facilities are a critical part of sustainable vineyard farming in NYS. Large quantities of pesticides are stored, mixed, and field applied on an annual basis. Surface and groundwater can both be affected. Storage and mixing location to wells, streams, and groundwater are all factors to consider. Worker safety and health are
Join us as we discuss the vineyard certification program in more detail including how to get certified and the benefits of certification. Applications for the 2023 New York Sustainable Vineyard Certification are now open. The New York Sustainable Winegrowing Vineyard Certification is a voluntary third-party certification that ensures vineyards operate under best management practices to conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and maintain a successful and socially equitable business. Join us as we discuss the
The New York Sustainable Winegrowing program is excited to announce that applications are now open for the Vineyard Certification process. Following the success of our pilot in 2022, the program is now open to all wineries in New York. The NYWGF Sustainable Winegrowing program provides a pathway to voluntary third-party certification that verifies vineyards are using the best practices to ensure environmental, social, and economic sustainability of New York Wine. Sam Filler, NYWGF Executive Director,
NYWGF is a Founding Member of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable
The Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) is an independent, nonprofit, multi-stakeholder initiative to unite the international wine community around a consensus definition of sustainable wine. The mission of the SWR is to develop guidelines and best practices to advance sustainability in all aspects of wine production and trade. As a Founding Member, the Foundation will join with sister programs to share expertise and develop a global sustainability standard for wine. For more information, visit this link.
NYWGF Joins Porto Protocol
2022 Unity Awards: Sustainability Recipient - Tim Martinson
Tim Martinson has been working on Sustainable practices for vineyards since starting his extension career in 1997. One of his first tasks was to produce a series of Agricultural Environmental Management worksheets for vineyards, in cooperation with the Yates Co. Soil and Water Conservation District. A few years later they expanded the worksheets into the VineBalance NY Guide to Sustainable Vineyard Practices workbook.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this Unity Award in sustainability from the Foundation, as developing and promoting Sustainable viticultural practices has been a major part of my extension effort for the past 20-od years.” says, Martinson.
The NYWGF Sustainability Program would not be possible without support from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA Rural Development, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, Yates County, New York State Wine Grape Growers, and John Ingle of Ingle Vineyard and Heron Hill Winery.