Looking for a CSWA Accredited Auditor? At Vinewise Sustainable Solutions, we guide California wineries and vineyards through the auditing process to help you earn your Certified California Sustainable Winery (CCSW) certification with confidence.
Who We Are
Vinewise Sustainable Solutions is a family-owned auditing firm that supports California wineries and vineyards in achieving Certified California Sustainable Wine (CCSW) certification through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA). Our team is composed entirely of CSWA-accredited auditors, collectively bringing over 12 years of experience to the certification process. Together, we work hand-in-hand with our clients to ensure the certification journey is as smooth, collaborative, and efficient as possible.
Where We Work
Located on the Central Coast of California, Vinewise Sustainable Solutions performs audits for vineyards and wineries across the state. We’ve covered over 20,000 acres in counties ranging from Santa Barbara to Sacramento, and we can service any region in California.
Our Auditing Stats
⫸ Years in Operation: 8
⫸ Counties Covered: 12
⫸ Total Properties Audited: 223
⫸ Vineyards Audited: 209
⫸ Wineries Audited: 14
⫸ Vineyard Acres Audited: 22,465
⫸ Cases Produced with Certification: 1,375,403
What is the CSWA sustainability certification?
The Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) certification is a globally recognized program dedicated to recognizing producers who grow quality winegrapes and wine while protecting the environment, people, and businesses.
Why get CSWA certified?
⫸ Contribute to a better future for generations of farmers, winemakers, and consumers ⫷
⫸ Save time and money by increasing efficiency ⫷
⫸ Improve sales potential for your fruit and wine ⫷
FAQs
What sets you apart from other auditors?
Vinewise Sustainable Solutions is a family-operated auditing firm made up of three CSWA-accredited auditors—all members of the same family—who collaborate on every audit throughout the certification process. With a collective 12 years of experience working directly with the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), we audit more than 220 vineyard and winery properties annually, covering over 22,000 acres across California. Our close working relationship with CSWA staff and deep familiarity with the certification process allow us to understand and address the unique needs and concerns of both winegrowers and winemakers.
What counties or areas of California do you work?
We have audited properties from Sacramento to Santa Barbara, and we can travel to any region of California to help you earn your certification.
What documents do I need before starting the auditing process?
We will provide you with a detailed list of documents needed once we have reviewed your self-assessment.
Why should our vineyard/winery be CSWA certified?
Most farmers find that this certification process does three things for them:
1. Allows for increased opportunities to sell your fruit (Vineyards) and sell your wine (Wineries) by being certified.
2. Save time and money by increasing your efficiency.
3. Motivates you to think about sustainability on a more regular basis.
What are the CSWA deadlines for Certification?
CSWA has three submission periods with deadlines in Winter, Spring, and Summer. There are four dates within each period to submit various documentation for your audit, including for your self-assessment completion, uploading of documents and calculation of metrics, submission of action plans, scheduling of the desk or on-site audit, and the final Audit Report submission.
Winter:
Self-Assessment Completion: December 15th
Documents Uploaded/Metrics Calculated & Entered/New Action Plan Uploaded: January 1st
Audit scheduled no later than: January 15th
Audit Report Submittal: February 1st
Spring:
Self-Assessment Completion: February 15th
Documents Uploaded/Metrics Calculated & Entered/New Action Plan Uploaded: March 1st
Audit scheduled no later than: March 15th
Audit Report Submittal: April 1st
Summer:
Self-Assessment Completion: April 15th
Documents Uploaded/Metrics Calculated & Entered/New Action Plan Uploaded: May 1st
Audit scheduled no later than: May 15th
Audit Report Submittal: June 1st
How do you determine your fees?
Our fees are based on the number of vineyards, the number of wineries, the size of the vineyards (in acres), the size of the wineries (cases bottled per year), and the location of the vineyards/wineries. Go to our Contact page to request a proposal today!
What if I have more than one vineyard?
If you have more than one vineyard, you may qualify as a Management Unit (vineyards only). As a Management Unit, you can save on the cost of the auditing fees and reduce the number of self-assessments and documents to upload. To qualify, vineyards must be in the same county and have at least 90% of the same self-assessment scores for each vineyard.