Terms and Conditions of Membership

Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. LIVE provides vineyards and wineries with official recognition for agricultural practices that are modeled after international standards of integrated production. In order to certify vineyards and wineries, LIVE educates members on sustainable practices and works with an independent inspection company. LIVE charges a minimal inspection fee that pays for this company to conduct inspections, thus enabling credible certification. Inspections (or site audits) are conducted in year one and every third year thereafter. LIVE provides all training and forms necessary for successful program participation. The intent of the winery certification program is to assure the sustainable production of wines from grape processing through loading of bottles/packaging for warehousing or shipment. Since a variety of licensing and subcontracting options exist for the modern winery, a wine can be certified sustainable only if grape processing, fermentation, pressing, tank and barrel storage, bottling/packaging and other wine production tasks are performed in a LIVE certified facility. The personnel, resources, and facilities utilized in the production of any certified wine shall comply with these guidelines.

As a wine-making facility owner participating in the LIVE program I understand and agree with the following conditions of certification:

• Participant acknowledges and accepts the rules and guidelines of the organization. I understand that the winery must earn the minimum amount of points as set forth by LIVE each year to qualify for certification.
• Participation in the LIVE program is voluntary.
• Participant agrees to enroll both winery and vineyard in the LIVE program in the instance that a vineyard is contiguous with winery and owned by the same entity. LIVE is a whole-farm and whole-winery certification based on ownership.
• Participant agrees to attend a mandatory introductory course and participate in regular training courses.
• Participant agrees to practice the guidelines of LIVE for a period of 1 passing year before certification is granted.
• Participant agrees to supply to LIVE a complete and true set of any required winery records on LIVE provided forms.
• Participant will refrain from the misuse of any certificates or labels provided by the LIVE organization.
• Participant agrees to allow authorized inspectors of the LIVE organization access to the winery and all pertinent infrastructures.
• Participant acknowledges that this application is for participation and does not guarantee certification. The awarding of certification is dependent upon successful completion of the program requirements. Participant agrees to pay any dues or assessments required by the LIVE organization.

Inspection Program for LIVE

1. It is the intent of the LIVE organization to inspect each member every other year to verify self-evaluation.
2. Members will be visited by at least one member of an independent team contracted by the LIVE organization. (The services of the inspection team will meet requirements as outlined by most current requirements of the IP guidelines)
3. Authorized inspectors of the LIVE organization will review the program with each member by means of the Scorecard evaluation system.
4. All required winery records with signature of member confirming that records are true and complete are required. Records may be encoded to ensure privacy of the member.
5. Records of inspections will be kept for a period of no less than three years.
6. Any unsatisfactory rating by the inspection service will be discussed on-site with the participating member.
7. Members reserve the right to appeal any unsatisfactory rating to the LIVE auditing committee. Supporting evidence to the disagreement (especially perishable or sensitive evidence) shall be collected immediately and preserved for evaluation by the auditing committee.

Penalties for Violation of Contract or Rules It is the intent of the LIVE organization to certify vineyards and wineries that have complied with the requirements of the integrated production program. The success of the program relies on strict adherence to the philosophy and rules of the program. Inspections, review of required documents, and periodic sampling are the basis for assuring the public that members certified by LIVE have complied with all aspects of the program. In order to gain the public's trust the following list of sanctions will be followed and will be applied for violations or failure of members to meet program requirements. Immediate Loss of Membership and Withdrawal of Certification

• Willful misuse of certification labels and certificates
• Willful misstatements of any winery records
• Non-payment of inspection fees within 60 days of invoice date and/or dropping the program to avoid paying fees following inspection
• Any actions of fraud or violation of the mutual trust between the grower/producer and LIVE
• Repeated failure to adhere to the strict rules and prohibitions as stated in the LIVE program

Loss of Certification Status for the Current Vintage

• An answer of 'No' on any red item on the LIVE Checklist
• Failure to earn the required number of points for certification
• Failure to attend any required introductory or ongoing educational courses
• Any other violations of the contract between LIVE and the member

Other Provisions

1. In the event of an unexpected or severe problem, the member may apply to the LIVE Technical Committee for permission to apply an intervention not included in the LIVE program. The Technical Committee will immediately review the proposal and approve or deny the intervention; in the case of approval the wine(s) concerned will lose certification for the current growing season. The member may only apply for an exception once in a three-year period.
2. Accidents or involuntary violations of the program: The member shall report to the committee any unusual accidental incidents as soon as possible after recognizing the incident. If the committee accepts the report, any wine(s) in question would lose certification for the current vintage.