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About

LIVE was formed in 1997 by a small group of visionary winegrowers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. In 1999 they incorporated their fledgling organization as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and soon after achieved a prestigious accreditation from the European chapter of the IOBC. LIVE has been certifying vineyards in Oregon since then, followed by Washington growers in 2006, and Idaho in 2012. In 2008 LIVE developed a first-in-class winery certification program. Today, LIVE certification is available to vineyards and wineries throughout the Pacific Northwest of the US and is partnered with numerous other certifications and NGO's around the world whose goal is a more sustainable future in wine.

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A Growing Movement

We measure and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. We use regenerative farming practices like planting cover crops to sequester atmospheric carbon in our soils. We protect and restore oak habitat and reduce our impacts on rivers and streams. We recognize that this is the greatest challenge of our time and are working to meet it.

All LIVE members are required to maintain ecologically rich ares on our farms. These include swaths of wildflower meadows, dense rich hedgerows, forested stands of trees, and protected riversides. We have a responsibility to connect our agriculture to lands that support a flourishing ecosystem of flora and fauna.

Farm and winery crews are the foundation of our industry, Our businesses provide healthcare, safe and healthy working conditions, and fair wages for our teams in the field. It is our goal to build real equity within our wine growing community.

Soil is alive! It is teeming with microorganisms and webbed with fungi. We farm to keep it that way, through healthy compost and biochar applications, nitrogen-fixing cover crops, and mycorrhizal inoculation. All of this life nourishes our vines and reflects itself in the terroir of the wines you love.

We implement land management practices that reduce a century’s old reliance on harsh chemicals. By integrating beneficial insects and bird habitats, using grazing animals to control weeds, and enabling wildlife’s free passage across our farms, we reduce the need for pesticides and restore healthy ecosystem functioning. 

As LIVE members, many of us dry farm our wine grapes without irrigation, use gravity flow systems to clarify our wines, and rely on solar energy and biodiesel to power our operations. The wine industries of the Pacific Northwest are proud to lead the way in minimizing the raw materials we use to produce some the finest wines in the world.

Let’s Get Certified — Join the LIVE Community

Who We Are

Meet the Board
  • A to Z Wineworks

    “Steered by some of the leading minds in the industry, LIVE’s solid guidebook encourages soil health and biodiversity in the production areas and surrounding ecosystem, as well as promoting a disease prevention program that encourages an integrated approach to mitigating risk of crop loss and increasing the quality of the fruit produced.”

    — Joey Myers

  • “The outstanding community & vast resources of LIVE makes charting a map to your site's goals attainable. ”

    — Lauren Eisold

  • Airlie Vineyards

    “LIVE is more than guidelines and rules, it is a way of thinking.”

    — Mary Olson

  • RESY

    “LIVE is the gold standard of sustainability certifications.”

    — Jon Bonné

  • Reyes Wine Group LLC

    “For years now, LIVE has been on the shortest of short lists whenever our trade considered questions like “What are the sustainable wine certifications with real credibility in the US?" I’ve got much respect for LIVE. ”

    — Martin R. Reyes MW

  • Ponzi Vineyards

    “LIVE certification creates a brand position that most other wine regions simply don't have. To be able to say your winery and vineyards have achieved the highest certification in the world for sustainable viticulture, now that's pretty powerful.”

    — Maria Ponzi

  • The Four Top

    “Change happens when people collaborate for the common good. LIVE is one of the oldest, strongest, and most visionary sustainability certifications in wine because its members built it from the ground up.”

    — Katherine Cole

  • Illahe Vineyards

    “Being a LIVE member not only serves my values but it also is very worthwhile. Illahe Vineyards is in a better position financially because we keep the LIVE standard.”

    — Lowell Ford

  • Jackson Family Wines

    “LIVE certification is a must for anyone serious about stewardship of their land, vineyards, winery, and brand. I am honored to have my piece of paradise carry the LIVE logo.”

    — Eugenia Keegan

    • Learn

      We have developed multiple platforms to share technical training and thought-provoking perspectives on issues related to sustainability with our members. Listen in on advice for sustainable wine distribution, enroll in an online course to learn how to increase your vineyard biodiversity, or watch a video about our little pollinators and their benefits.

      Learn More

      Recent News

    • Growing Oaks Project Update

      Can you help us collect 30,000 Oregon white oak acorns? Our Growing Oaks project continues!

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    • Meet the Beneficials: Red-Tailed Hawk

      Welcome to our series, Meet the Beneficials, where we shine a monthly spotlight on key beneficial organisms that can offer valuable services for your vineyard.

      Read More
    • Recycling Hub Update for #4 Winery Plastics

      We now have a new recycling hub for #4 winery plastics in Portland! Help us increase recycling rates by participating and spreading the word.

      Read More
    • LIVE Social Sustainability Index Released

      After a year of collaborative work with Linfield University and other experts in social sustainability, we are proud to present the LIVE Social Sustainability Index. This list of 75 items will assess...

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    • LIVE Plus Certification Available

      We are happy to announce a new certification option called LIVE Plus. This designation is available for those members who have demonstrated an extraordinarily high level of sustainable winegrowing. We...

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