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New York Sustainable Winegrowing

New York Sustainable Winegrowing is a comprehensive program that includes educational events and resources as well as an official certification process for Vineyards who are seeking to advance their environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Certification is based on science backed regionally defined standards and independent third-party audits so you can feel confident in the wine you are drinking.

Look for our Trustmark at Vineyards and wineries and on bottles in 2024 to ensure that the wine you are enjoying is environmentally sound, socially equitable, and financially sustainable. 

Certification Standards

Certification is based on maintaining a minimum score in the VineBalance workbook. This workbook is designed to provide grape growers in New York and other regions of the Northeast with guidance in evaluating and adopting best management practices that minimize environmental impacts, reduce economic risks, and protect worker health and safety. Standards in the workbook are set by a panel of experts including academics, industry members, and extension specialists focusing on practices relevant to New York grape production. Annually, these standards undergo review and revision to ensure they are up to date with science based best practices and economic feasibility. Currently the workbook features nine objectives.  

  1. To promote the use of practices that reduce reliance on off-farm inputs. 
  2. To build, regenerate, and conserve healthy soils for future generations. 
  3. To protect surrounding reservoirs and waterways from pollution. 
  4. To improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
  5. To conserve natural resources, reduce waste streams, and recycle. 
  6. To encourage healthy ecosystems, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. 
  7. To increase climate resiliency and promote climate-smart farming. 
  8. To provide education and pathways for continuous improvement. 
  9. To foster a socially equitable and economically viable industry. 

Justin Jackson

Justin Jackson

Sustainability Program Manager

Contact

VineBalance 2023

NYWGF is pleased to announce the release of VineBalance 2023 as the latest edition of New York’s statewide code of sustainable winegrowing.

The current list of vineyards achieving certification are as follows:

Finger Lakes

  • Airy Acres Vineyard*
  • Anthony Road Wine Company/Martini Vineyards*
  • Atwater Vineyards*
  • Boundary Breaks*
  • Buttonwood Grove Winery*
  • Buzzard Crest Vineyards/Barrington Cellars*
  • Chateau Frank*
  • Doyle Vineyard Management (Caywood)*
  • Doyle Vineyard Management (Dresden)*
  • Doyle Vineyard Management (Pulleney)*
  • Dr. Konstantin Frank Eric Volz Vineyard*
  • Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery*
  • Forge Cellars*
  • Fox Run Vineyards*
  • Heart & Hands Wine Company*
  • Hermann J. Wiemer*
  • Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard*
  • Heron Hill Winery*
  • Hillick and Hobbs*
  • Hosmer Winery/Patricia Verona*
  • Hunt Country Vineyards*
  • Ingle Vineyard
  • Kashong Glen Vineyards*
  • Keuka Lake Vineyards West*
  • Keuka Lake Vineyards East*
  • Lake Road Vineyards*
  • Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars*
  • New Vines Winery*
  • Ravines Wines Cellars Geneva*
  • Ravines Wines Cellars Hammondsport*
  • Ravines Wines Cellars Ovid*

Finger Lakes (con’t)

  • Rock House Vineyards*
  • Sawmill Creek Vineyards*
  • Silver Thread Vineyard*
  • Standing Stone Vineyards*
  • Thirsty Owl Wine Company*
  • Three Brothers Wineries*
  • Treleaven Wines/King Ferry Vineyards*
  • Vineyard View Winery/Crooked Vines*
  • Wagner Vineyards*

Hudson Valley

  • Benmarl Winery*
  • Clover Pond Vineyard*
  • Fjord Vineyard*
  • South Dominion Vineyard
  • Whitecliff Vineyard*

Long Island

  • Ev&Em Vineyards

Champlain Valley

  • Four Maples Vineyard & Winery*

Niagara

  • Arrowhead Springs Vineyards
  • Chateau Niagara Winery*

*Vineyards marked with an asterisk are also members of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

Important Dates

October 10, 2022VineBalance 2023 Released
December 30, 2022Completed VineBalance Due
February – May, 2023In-person Audits Conducted

Learn More

Tools and Resources

Events

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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.