What you should know about LIVE, Oregon Wine’s partner in sustainable production
t’s Organic September here in the UK. Founded by The Soil Association, the month-long campaign shines a light on organic farmers, products, brands and producers. It’s a way to celebrate the eco-friendly and sustainable practices that can come from organic production. After all, Organic September is a celebration of minimising environmental impact!
While LIVE is not an organic certifier, it also supports and celebrates those growers and makes in the US' Pacific Northwest wine region who have adopted sustainable practices. Through education and connecting members to third-party certifiers, LIVE has a central role in encouraging sustainable innovation. Today, there are 290 LIVE certified members from Oregon’s burgeoning wine industry.
In essence, LIVE certified grapes are grown with the greatest respect for the environment. And the same goes for LIVE certified wine. Locking in future soil integrity and the longevity of a generational industry.
How does LIVE work with its members?
Founded in 1997, LIVE takes a holistic approach to vineyard and winemaker certification. This includes non-grape crops, landscaping, building operations, labor practices, even packaging must be managed to LIVE standards!
LIVE describes their membership and certification as ‘rigorous’ – at a glance we’d agree. Their vineyard and winery checklists require documentation and regular third party assessment.
Members are visited by a third-party inspector in the first and second year of LIVE membership, and every third year afterward (for wineries it is the first year and then every third year).
Are LIVE vineyard and winery certification checklists different?
Yes they are. This allows LIVE to provide tailored support and education specific to the unique processes of grape growing or wine making.
You’ll see below the different areas LIVE focuses on when it comes to certification checklists.
VINEYARD Farm management and training Biodiversity Site selection Varieties and rootstock Plant nutrition and fertilizer use Irrigation Integrated plant protection Animal density and welfare Worker health and safety Watershed and riparian health | WINERY Winery records and training Grape sourcing and enology Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions Materials management Water management Worker health, safety, and benefits Community impact and education |
What does the LIVE logo mean?
When you see a LIVE Certified logos on a bottle from the Oregon region, you’ll know that the vineyard or winemaker actively supports and protects the delicate ecosystems above and below ground.
There are two logos that indicate different LIVE certifications.
‘Live Certified Sustainable Grapes’ logo means that the wine contains at least 97% certified grapes. | |
‘LIVE Certified Sustainable Wine’ logo means at least 97% certified grapes and were produced in a certified winery. |
Now you know a little more about LIVE Certification, you can keep an eye out for the logo on bottles of Orgeon Wine and feel confident that you’re selecting wine that ensures the future biodiversity of Oregon’s land.
