Lodi Rules refers to a set guidelines used by winegrowers in the state of California to ensure that their products are grown in a sustainable manner.[1] The "Lodi Rules" are intended to lead to quantifiable improvements in environmental health of the adjacent ecosystem, humanity, as well as the wine quality.[2]
Products grown in accordance with the rules are certified by the non-profit organization Protected Harvest and carry a label informing retailers and consumers of the grower's compliance with the "Lodi Rules."[1] Partaking growers can get their vineyards certified as producing sustainability grown wine grapes.[2]
The Lodi Rules Program has two components, Sustainable winegrowing standards and the Pesticide Environmental Assessment System (PEAS).[2] PEAS measures the environmental impact of all pesticides, whether organic or synthetic, used in a vineyard during the year.[2] A vineyard must achieve a minimum number of points attained by sustainable farming practices.[2] The practice points are based on the Lodi rules.[2] The vineyard should not exceed a maximum number of pesticide impact points.[2] The number of points is calculated using PEAS. Certification is presented to an individual vineyard on a yearly timeframe.[2]