At Knudsen Vineyards, sustainability begins with how we care for the vineyard itself. For more than 50 years, our family has farmed this land with the understanding that the decisions we make today affect the health of the vineyard for years to come. LIVE Certification gives that philosophy a measurable framework, helping us evaluate how we farm, document our practices, and continually look for ways to improve.
LIVE stands for Low Input Viticulture & Enology, and it is a third-party sustainability certification created specifically for vineyards and wineries in the Pacific Northwest. Rather than relying on the broad idea of being “sustainable,” LIVE establishes detailed standards for responsible winegrowing and requires participating vineyards to demonstrate that those standards are being met.
What LIVE Certified Sustainable Farming Means
Being LIVE Certified is an ongoing process. Each year, certified vineyards report on their farming practices and maintain detailed records covering everything from soil and plant nutrition to irrigation, pest management, and worker safety. Independent inspections are also part of the certification process, providing another level of accountability.
For us, that is an important distinction. Sustainability is not simply something we say about the vineyard. It is something we are expected to document, evaluate, and continue working toward. LIVE looks at the vineyard as an interconnected agricultural system, where healthy vines depend on healthy soils, thoughtful water use, biodiversity, and careful decision-making throughout the growing season.
Caring for the Ground Beneath the Vines
One of the most visible examples of sustainable farming at Knudsen Vineyards can be found between the vineyard rows. Cover crops help protect the Dundee Hills’ soils from erosion while supporting the overall health of the vineyard floor. They are part of a larger approach to maintaining soil structure, organic matter, and the biological activity that helps sustain vines over the long term.
In a region defined by steep hillsides and winter rainfall, protecting that soil is especially important. Vineyard management is not only about what is happening on the vines above ground, but also about preserving the foundation beneath them.
Making Decisions Based on What the Vineyard Needs
LIVE also incorporates Integrated Pest Management, commonly known as IPM. The basic idea is straightforward: observe first, understand what is happening in the vineyard, and respond when necessary rather than treating pests according to a predetermined schedule. Throughout the growing season, vineyard conditions are monitored so decisions can be based on actual pressures and risks. This approach encourages prevention, careful observation, and targeted intervention when intervention is needed.
The same level of consideration applies to other vineyard materials. LIVE maintains specific Green, Yellow, and Red lists for agricultural inputs and requires detailed documentation of pesticides, fertilizers, and other materials used in the vineyard. That recordkeeping creates an important layer of accountability and encourages every decision to have a clear purpose.
Leaving Room for the Larger Ecosystem
A vineyard does not exist independently from the land surrounding it. LIVE standards recognize the importance of ecological infrastructure—areas of a farm that support habitat, biodiversity, and natural systems rather than being managed solely for agricultural production.
That principle is particularly meaningful at Knudsen Vineyards, where vineyard blocks exist alongside forests, native vegetation, and other natural areas throughout the property. Those spaces are part of the health of the vineyard as a whole. They provide habitat, support beneficial organisms, and help maintain a more diverse agricultural landscape.
A Commitment That Continues
Perhaps the most meaningful part of LIVE Certification is that it is not something a vineyard completes once and then moves on from. Standards are reviewed, records are maintained, farming decisions are documented, and compliance continues to be independently evaluated. As research and best practices evolve, the program encourages vineyards to continue evolving with them.
That ongoing process closely reflects how our family has always approached this land. We want Knudsen Vineyards to remain a healthy, productive vineyard not only for the wines we are growing today, but for the generations that will care for it after us. LIVE Certification gives us a practical framework for doing that work thoughtfully—and a way to hold ourselves accountable along the way.
