Winery Becomes SIP Certified, Enhancing COE’s Ongoing Commitment to Sustainability
September 14, 2020, San Luis Obispo, CA – Sustainability has always been a tenet for Center of Effort (COE), it was incorporated from the beginning. The estate vineyards have been accredited with SIP Certified status ever since 2014. Now, Center of Effort has become one of only four winemaking facilities to be Elite SIP Certified for their winery. SIP Certified began its audited certification program in 2008, the same year that COE was established. It was an outgrowth of sustainability self-assessment programs developed by the Central Coast Vineyard team which became an early model for many other sustainable agriculture programs globally. The reach of SIP has grown exponentially across California and other states, at a time when responsible agriculture and production has become a priority for many consumers.
“With their vineyards being certified since 2014, Center of Effort has been a major proponent of SIP Certified for years. COE puts their sustainability beliefs to practice from the soil to the glass,” says Beth Vukmanic Lopez, SIP Certified Manager.
To achieve SIP Certified for a winery, the company must undergo an in-depth assessment of their entire facility operations. This includes a rigorous evaluation of a variety of items including (but not limited to) facility establishment and management, energy uses, water efficiency, purchasing, recycling and waste reduction, marketing materials, event needs, and landscape decisions. Elements of social equity and financial sustainability are also taken into account, as with the current vineyard certification program.
Nathan Carlson, Winemaker and General Manager at Center of Effort, explains that “in addition to our high-quality Estate-grown wines, our production facility acts as a host winery, providing space, equipment, services and resources to a diverse group of talented client winemakers large and small. As such, we are the very first custom winemaking business to achieve SIP Certified status for our winery. In essence, our sustainable wine production practices will positively impact dozens of brands, something we are very proud of.”
Some of the practices COE employs to support sustainability include real-time soil moisture monitoring, natural cover crops which return nutrients to the soil and prevent erosion, and a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management strategy. The winery has employed solar energy systems to offset all energy use, careful water management, and a responsible approach to recycling and package design.
About Center of Effort Winery
Center of Effort (COE) is dedicated to producing exceptional Estate wines and member experiences centered around our sustainable in practice (SIP) certified vineyard property, winery facility, and recently completed showplace hospitality center.
Located four miles from the Pacific Ocean, in San Luis Obispo’s beautiful Edna Valley AVA, COE is a reflection of Bill and Cheryl Swanson’s vision to produce wines of the highest standard and to serve the local community they have called home since their early years. The COE production team, led by Winemaker Nathan Carlson, has a track record of crafting consistently top-rated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Estate, and is now advancing the quality envelope with new vineyard plantings, principally of Rhône varieties. COE offers thoughtful wine, culinary and educational experiences from our hospitality center. Unhurried and personal, our private appointments are tailored for each guest.
‘Center of Effort’ is a sailing term, defined as the point on the sail where forces come together and act as a whole. Through skillful and responsible cultivation, artistic winemaking and a passion for excellence, the forces at Center of Effort join to create wines that are classic, elegant, and exude a sense of place and purpose.
About SIP Certified
What is Sustainable?
SIP Certified is a rigorous sustainable vineyard, winery and wine certification with strict, non-negotiable standards based on science and expert input, independent verification, transparency and absence of conflict of interest. Certification addresses the 3 P’s of Sustainability – People, Planet, Prosperity – ensuring that both natural & human resources are protected. The rules, called Standards, require a measurable, holistic set of practices addressing habitat, water, energy, soil, recycling, air quality, packaging, pest management, social equity, and business management. Participants document over 50 requirements and implement practices to achieve 75% of the total available points. Practices verified through independent records and on-site inspections, and receive final approval from an independent advisory board.
