SIP Certified Program Instructions 2025

Program Overview and Timeline

Any wine made with at least 85% SIP Certified fruit (estate or purchased) can add the logo or verbiage to its label.

SIP Certified Wine Applications can be submitted before or after the applied-for wines have been bottled.

Vintage changes on previously SIP Certified wines do not require a new COLA, but must go through SIP Certified wine inspection/chain of custody verification.

If wine(s) is(are) eligible for certification, a fully executed Wine Certification Agreement (new applicants only) must be completed and returned to program staff.

Wine certification is an off-site process conducted remotely through the database. The application and inspection processes are flexible but must allow for credible chain of custody verification with adequate lead time for the applicant to incorporate the seal on labels. A delay by the applicant to promptly complete any of the related steps will result in a delay in granting licensing and use of the seal.


Tutorial: Apply for SIP Certified Wine


In general, the inspection process is as follows:

  • Ongoing – once wines are in final blend stage:
  • Applicant completes, submits, and assigns a Wine Inspector to their Wine Application via the SIP Certified database.
  • Ongoing – once application is submitted:
  • Inspector selects 20% of applied-for wines for documentation audit.
  • Inspectors maintain inspection notes are records for one year.
  • Ongoing – once inspector makes selection:
  • Applicant uploads chain of custody documentation for selected wines into their online application.
  • Question 8 may be left blank if application is submitted pre-bottling.
  • Ongoing – once all documents are uploaded:
  • Inspector reviews documentation.
  • Inspector notifies Applicant with questions and/or requests.
  • No later than five business days after inspection:
  • Inspector submits Eligibility or Final Report to staff to be blinded and submitted to Certification Advisory Committee (CAC).
  • Eligibility - wines are not yet bottled.
  • Final - wines are bottled.
  • Within five business days of receiving inspection report:
  • CAC determines eligibility based on blind inspector report.
  • Within five business days of CAC decision:
  • Program staff notifies applicant of the CAC determination of eligibility**, and sends wine certification invoice.
  • **Applicant provides Eligibility Letter to TTB with COLA application(s).
  • If wines were applied for pre-bottling:
  • Applicant uploads bottling records to Question 8 (30 days after bottling/processing, or by December 1).
  • Inspector verifies bottling records, and submits Final Report to program staff.
  • Program staff sends Certification Letter to Applicant upon Inspector verification of bottling records, and program receipt of invoice payment.
  • Final licensing is granted with the full execution of the Certification Agreement and payment of certification fees.


Database Application Instructions

Tutorial: Apply for SIP Certified Wine


Use an Existing Account

  • Log into the Database.
  • Click Get Started.
  • To the right, under “Add a Wine Application,” click the link for “New Wine Application.”

1. Create a New Wine Application

  • Select the applicant Property.
  • Select the application contact.
  • Click the “Create” button.

2. Add Your Wines

  • Add wines to be certified to the table; click the “Save” button after each entry.
  • To edit an entry, click on the link for the Brand Name.
  • Make edits and click the “Save” button.
  • After all wines have been added, click the link to “Assign your wine inspector.”
  • NOTE: an application cannot be edited once an inspector is assigned. If changes need to be made, contact program staff.

3. Select an Inspector

  • Select an inspector from the drop-down menu and select a proposed date for the inspection to begin.
  • Inspections require 1-4 hours depending on the preparedness of the applicant and the number of products in the application.
  • The applicant pays inspection fees directly to the inspector.
  • Click the “Save” button.
  • Your inspector will be notified via email that they have a new application to review.

4. Upload documentation

When your Inspector selects 20% of the applied-for wines for the documentation audit, you will receive an email notification to log in and upload your chain of custody records.

  • Log in to the Database and click Get Started.
  • Click the name of your wine application.
  • Toward the bottom of the page under “Chapters,” click the link for “Wine Certification.”
  • To the left, click the link for "0.1: Chain of Custody Inspection."
  • Upload documentation for the wines selected by your Inspector.
  • If you’re certifying pre-bottling:
  • Leave Application Question 8: Bottling Records unanswered.
  • Upload bottling records within 30 days of bottling or by December 1.
  • Notify your Inspector via email that your bottling records have been submitted.
  • Once all answers are complete and documents uploaded, click the button to “Save and Continue.”
  • Your Inspector will be notified that your application is ready for review.

5. Inspector Application Review

  • If your Inspector has questions or needs additional documentation, they will contact you via email.
  • An “!” in your application’s Table of Contents indicates insufficient documentation for one of your answers.
  • Open the Chapter and find the questions marked with “Inspector Needs Documentation.”
  • Upload documentation and make comments if necessary.
  • Click the button to “Save and Continue."
  • Email your Inspector when you have updated your documentation.

6.   Invoice & Eligibility

See below section “Certification Costs” for wine fees.

  • Once your Inspector has approved your application and completed their report, you will receive an email notification.
  • Within five business days, staff submits blinded (applicant names and affiliations are not disclosed) inspection reports to the Certification Advisory Committee (CAC) for a majority vote eligibility decision (ELIGIBLE, HOLD, or NOTE ELIGIBLE).
  • Within five business days of the CAC’s decision, you will receive your Eligibility Letter and Invoice.
  • Submit your Eligibility Letter with your COLAs.
  • Make Invoice payments payable to Vineyard Team at 5915 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422.

Certification

You will receive your Certification Letter upon verification of bottling records and Invoice payment.

Certified products are eligible to use the seal as it pertains to the product in a variety of ways (i.e. labels, brochures, website, displays). See the Style Guide for details.


Certification Costs

Certification fees cover staff and materials to support specific program administration and outreach. Program staff works diligently to build brand awareness among trade, media, gatekeepers, and consumers through a variety of efforts. Staff also provides materials to each participant to support their individual marketing efforts. In order to determine the fee structure, Vineyard Team evaluated a variety of factors (i.e., creation of a self-sustaining program, sharing costs between wineries and vineyards, comparability to other programs).


Wine Fees

  • Application: None
  • Audit: Estimated at $100 - $175/hour
  • Paid directly to inspector
  • 1 - 4 hours depending on preparedness of applicant
  • Licensing (Per Case):
  • Annual certification of 0 - 7,500 cases
  • $0.16/case
  • Annual certification of 7,500 - 24,999 cases
  • $0.12/case
  • Annual certification of 25,000 - 49,999 cases
  • $0.10/case
  • Annual certification of 50,000 - 99,999 cases
  • $0.08/case
  • Annual certification of 100,000 - 249,999 cases
  • $0.07/case

Applicable fees are calculated on final case production. Payment is due no later than one month after bottling or by September 15 of the following vintage for white and rose wines and by December 15 of the following vintage for red wines. Outstanding balances accrue interest at the monthly rate of one and one-half percent.

Make checks payable to Vineyard Team at 5915 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422.


Appeals

If an applicant wishes to appeal a CAC decision, the applicant will be granted an opportunity to provide a written explanation of any discrepancy of the inspector's findings. The CAC will review the appeal materials and provide an opportunity for an interview (in person or via conference call). All decisions of the CAC following an appeal are final. Any other dispute or disagreement between the parties hereto arising out of or relating to the program shall be settled by binding arbitration in San Luis Obispo County, California, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.