US wine sustainability: the 4th summit unites 10 states as California expands its programs

Cooperation across markets and regulation

At her 2nd appearance at the 3rd Sustainability in Drinks conference in London, Allison Jordan described how the California Wine Institute and California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance use international meetings to compare effective programs, understand market needs, build relationships and identify ideas that might work in California.¹

Jordan argued for greater alignment among sustainability requirements, reporting systems and measurements. Common terminology and metrics could reduce complexity for growers and winemakers, support recognition of existing programs and help organizations direct limited resources toward shared goals rather than competing over which approach is superior.¹

The 2 California organizations also represent the wine sector before state and federal policymakers. Their work includes explaining the effects of proposed environmental rules, seeking recognition of sustainability programs in compliance processes and engaging with local requirements involving packaging, bottling and water.¹

Internationally, the California Wine Institute works with groups including the World Wine Trade Group to track differing export-market requirements. In the US, it participates in the National Grape Research Alliance with the table-grape, raisin and juice-grape sectors on shared research needs such as water management, and it works with the Department of Food and Agriculture on support for practices including healthier soils.¹

Regenerative viticulture and consumer communication

Jordan identified regenerative viticulture as California’s most significant sustainability development over the previous 3 years, particularly for producers seeking deeper work on soil health. The Regenerative Viticulture Foundation’s One Block Challenge has encouraged producers to trial regenerative practices and has made that part of sustainability easier to explain to producers and consumers.¹

The Institute and CSWA have used the theme “wines on a mission” to connect vineyard and winery practices with environmental outcomes, while emphasizing that implemented practices matter regardless of the certification selected. They are working with IWSR on consumer research covering effective messages, winery storytelling, alternative packaging and lighter bottles with lower carbon footprints, including communication with emerging consumers of legal drinking age.¹

California Vineyard & Winery Climate Action Toolkit

CSWA launched the California Vineyard & Winery Climate Action Toolkit in 2025 as a collection of research, practices and implementation resources for vineyards and wineries. A 38-member advisory group of wine-grape growers, producers, scientists and sustainability professionals helped develop it for businesses ranging from climate-action beginners to those with established plans. The broader shared objective of CSWA and the California Wine Institute is to increase sustainable winegrowing through education, outreach, certification and partnerships.¹

The toolkit provides practical guidance on the need for climate action, prioritizing measures, implementing them across operations, involving stakeholders and pursuing continuous improvement. A subsequent tool helps growers identify their largest carbon-footprint sources, assess climate risks, rank possible actions and build a financial case for the highest priorities. CSWA is also forming cohorts whose participants will receive direct expert assistance and follow a structured process for using the resources.¹

At the start of the year described in the source, CSWA and its toolkit received the business sustainability prize at Vinexposium’s V d’Or Awards ahead of Wine Paris. The reported totals were 615 toolkit users and 472 downloads of its climate-action planning template.¹

Dry farming and water conservation

CSWA joined California’s Community Alliance with Family Farmers, wine growers, universities and other partners for a 3-year Dry Farming & Water Conservation Initiative running from 2023 through 2026. The project seeks better evidence and practical information about dry farming and water conservation in California vineyards.¹

The initiative created a statewide network of dry farmers, a guide to dry-farming practices and grower case studies. It also studied soil carbon sequestration and soil health, while economic assessments examined dry farming’s value and costs to help identify the plots and sites where it is most likely to be effective.¹

California’s reported sustainability milestones

In August, CSWA published the 2025 California Wine Community Sustainability Report. It stated that 70% of California wine-grape acreage was certified under a sustainability program and that more than 90% of the state’s wine was made in a Certified California Sustainable Winery.¹

Jordan said documented improvements had occurred in more than 50% of the state’s vineyards and wineries during the 5 years since the preceding report. That period also included CSWA’s 20th anniversary, the 15th anniversary of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and the 10th anniversary of the California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards.¹

The 4th US Sustainable Winegrowing Summit

The 4th US Sustainable Winegrowing Summit was held in Walla Walla, Washington, and brought together sustainability organizations from 10 states. Participants included representatives associated with New York, Oregon and Washington; those 3 states and California collectively account for 95% of US wine production. The meeting allowed stakeholders to exchange experience, compare state strategies and examine California’s work alongside initiatives elsewhere in the country.¹

The summit addressed 6 major areas: sustainable wine packaging and certification; effective communication of sustainability work; climate-action strategy and implementation; dry-farming techniques for climate resilience; recruitment and retention of the next generation of wine professionals; and technological solutions for sustainable, climate-resilient grape growing and winemaking.¹