Cheers to 30 Years!
January 18th – Atascadero, CA: In 1994, a casual in-field meeting at a vineyard on the Central Coast of California sparked the creation of a network of like-minded individuals dedicated to sustainable winegrowing.
Three decades later, Vineyard Team has remained committed to promoting sustainable winegrowing practices by providing up-to-date education and resources to professionals in the industry. For 30 years, the organization has demonstrated an ongoing commitment through the introduction of innovative programs including the Sustainable Ag Expo, SIP Certified sustainable certification, Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship, Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast, Tailgate meetings, and on-demand educational resources.
In-Field & On-Demand Education
Tailgate meetings allow growers to talk directly with experts to learn how to adopt sustainable farming practices in their vineyards. Topics range from irrigation to pest management, soil health, safety training, and more. Our online courses also cover many of these topics and provide a platform to stay up-to-date with the most pressing issues in the field, while earning continuing education hours on-demand, from anywhere.
Sustainable Ag Expo
November 2024 marks the 19th annual Sustainable Ag Expo, a multi-day seminar and tradeshow that provides an opportunity for farmers, ag professionals, and pest control advisors to learn about the latest in farming research, resource issues, and business trends related to sustainable agriculture. Last year, the event saw 534 attendees, 62 agriculture business exhibitors, 32 expert presenters, 46.5 continuing education hours… plus 4,800 oz of coffee and 204 donuts! Save the date for Sustainable Ag Expo 2024: November 12 through 13 at the Madonna Inn Expo Center in San Luis Obispo, CA.
SIP Certified
Introduced in 2008, SIP Certified is a rigorous sustainable certification program for vineyards, wineries, and wines, and is the gold standard for sustainable winegrowing. Today, over 46 thousand vineyard acres in California, Oregon, and Michigan; five wineries; and more than 60.3 million bottles of wine have been SIP Certified.
Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship
Investing in the next generation ensures the sustainability of communities. In 2015, the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship was created to help children of vineyard and winery workers achieve their dream of higher education. With the generous support of community members and businesses, this program has expanded and now provides multi-year scholarships and a mentor to support recipients. Since its inception, the program has invested $270,000 into the education of dozens of deserving scholars.
Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast
The Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast has released 4,620 minutes of on-the-go education since 2016, providing a platform for experts to share knowledge and best practices to the sustainable winegrowing community.
Listen to the top 5 episodes from 2023.
Cheers to 30 Years!
Vineyard Team extends heartfelt thanks to the incredible network of grower, winery, and business members that invest in sustainable winegrowing and support the organization.
A message from Executive Director, Beth Vukmanic, celebrating her 15-year anniversary with the organization this year:
“It fills us with immense joy and gratitude to mark three decades of education. When the organization began, sustainability wasn’t a common topic of discussion. Now, 30 years later, more and more people – consumers, ag professionals, organizations, and communities – are recognizing the importance of adopting sustainable agricultural practices. We are honored and excited to continue to be at the forefront of the sustainability movement.”
About Vineyard Team
Arising from growers’ interest to educate and guide themselves towards sustainable winegrowing practices, Vineyard Team has become an internationally recognized leader in the sustainability movement since 1994.Not only has the organization influenced sustainability initiatives within the winegrowing community, Vineyard Team programs have influenced efforts in other crops as well. Recognized by governmental, environmental, and community organizations, Vineyard Team’s sustainable winegrowing programs are always leading the way in innovation. Visit www.VineyardTeam.org for more information.
