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Sustainable Winegrowing Is The Environmentally Responsible Way to Make Great Wine.


What are the Lodi Rules?

The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing is California’s only 3rd party-certified sustainable winegrowing program.  It promotes practices that enhance biodiversity, soil and water health, and employee well-being, while meeting our needs today without compromising those of future generations.

These region-wide standards have been endorsed by Protected Harvest, a non-profit organization comprised of scientists, academics, and environmentalists that certifies farmer’s use of stringent environmental growing standards.

For more extensive information on our Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing Program, visit the Lodi Rules website.

Drink Certified Sustainable Lodi Wines

When you drink a certified sustainable grown Lodi wine, you are supporting a farmer, a vintner, and a community that embraces its responsibility to take care of the environment.

By being concerned about habitat, wildlife, and our workers health and safety, along with committing ourselves to clean air and water, healthy soils and energy conservation, we protect our land and the community we live in.  This allows us to produce higher quality wines more reflective of the places and people that grow them.  It gives you the opportunity to promote responsible farming by enjoying the great wines of these vineyards.

Certified Sustainable Practices

Integrated Pest Management
We limit our crop protection to use a bare minimum in our vineyards.  We create and maintain owl habitat to naturally control gophers and meadow voles.

Land Stewardship
We integrate the management of our vineyards with the ecosystems by introducing and preserving native plants, maintain vernal pools, and protecting endangered species.

Air Quality Control
We plant cover crops of native grasses and limit tractor use to reduce dust and greenhouse gasses.

Water Management
We constantly monitor soil moisture and measure the vines water needs. We regulate water usage through Low Volume Drip irrigation.

Soil Health
Healthy living soils grow great wines.  We add organic matter by planting cover crops and utilizing compost.

Human Resources
People are the foundation of great sustainably grown wines. Our workers receive comprehensive training that enables them to perform jobs safely.

Renewable Energy Source
Solar energy systems are used throughout the region to provide power to vineyard and winery operations.

Lodi’s History of Sustainability

1992 – The Lodi Winegrape Commission launches a grassroots Integrated Pest Management Program.

1996 – Seventy demonstration vineyards were utilized throughout the appellation to introduce sustainable farming practices.

2000 – The first edition of “The Lodi Winegrower’s Workbook” was published. This groundbreaking document became the basis of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices and is an invaluable tool for Lodi growers.

2004 – The Lodi Winegrape Commission assembles growers, vintners, academics, and scientists to develop California’s 3rd party certified viticultural standards.

2005 – Lodi Rules is endorsed by Protected Harvest.  The first six farming families certify 1,455 acres.

2006 – Lodi Rules is awarded by the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership award.  Over 5,000 acres are certified sustainable.

2007 – 7,000 acres are certified sustainable. The first wines are released bearing the “Lodi Rules” seal.

2008 – 10,000 acres are certified sustainable

2009 – 15,000 acres are enrolled in the Lodi Rules program.