On Tuesday, September 15, 2015, TTB published a rule in the Federal Register detailing the agency’s revision of wine regulations that govern the return of wine to bonded premises. See Return of Wine to Bonded Premises. The final rule was issued without prior notice and comment. The new rule is summarized below: TTB’s…
Tag: TTB
Proposed Establishment of the “Champlain Valley of New York” Viticultural Area
TTB is accepting comments through August 31, 2015 on a proposed American Viticultural Area (“AVA”) called “Champlain Valley of New York,” as per a proposed rule in the Federal Register on June 30, 2015. The proposed AVA is as follows: The petition proposing the new AVA was sent to TTB by Colin…
TTB Proposes New Loess Hills District AVA and Expansion of Willamette Valley
TTB is accepting comments through August 17, 2015 on a proposed American Viticultural Area (“AVA”), as per a proposed rule in the Federal Register on June 18, 2015. The proposed AVA is as follows: Loess Hills District Viticultural Area (Notice No. 153, Docket No. TTB-2015-0009): The proposed AVA of “Loess Hills District” comprises of a 12,897-square mile (8,254,151-acre)…
Winery Files Opposition to Trademark Registration of HBO’s Three-Eyed Raven
Last week, Franciscan Vineyards, Inc. of St. Helena filed an opposition to the mark THREE-EYED RAVEN, filed by Applicant Home Box Office, Inc., for alcohol beverages, energy drinks, and non-alcoholic drinks beverages and fruit drinks. Franciscan Vineyards opposes registration of THREE-EYED RAVEN on the grounds that registration is likely to…
TTB Proposes Three New AVAs: Lewis-Clark Valley, Eagle Foothills, and Lamorinda
TTB is accepting comments through June 15, 2015 on three proposed American Viticultural Areas (“AVAs”), as per a proposed rule in the Federal Register on April 14, 2015. The proposed AVAs are as follows: Lewis-Clark Valley Viticultural Area (Notice No. 149, Docket No. TTB-2015-0005): The proposed AVA of Lewis-Clark Valley includes…
TTB Provides New Guidance on Annual Filing Requirements for Wineries
This week, TTB issued a new guidance on the annual filing requirements for wineries. The guidance announced that, for wineries meeting certain requirements, excise tax returns and reporting requirements may be filed annually. Specifically, this refers to the Excise Tax Return (TTB Form 5000.24) and the Report on Wine Premises Operations…
TTB Issues Final Rule for Small Brewers and Reduces Regulatory Burdens
On September 30, 2014, TTB issued a final rule in the Federal Register for small brewers (defined infra), reducing regulatory burdens. The final rule is entitled “Small Brewers Bond Reduction and Requirement to File Tax Returns, Remit Tax Payments and Submit Reports Quarterly” and goes into effect on January 1, 2015. This rule finalizes an important and…
TTB Establishes 11 New American Viticultural Areas in Paso Robles
On Thursday, October 9, 2014, TTB published a final rule in the Federal Register establishing eleven new American Viticultural Areas (“AVAs”) within the existing Paso Robles viticultural area in San Luis Obispo County, California. The eleven new AVAs are as follows: Adelaida District; Creston District; El Pomar District; Paso Robles Estrella…
TTB Expands List of Allowable Revisions to Approved Labels for Alcohol Beverages
On Monday, in Industry Circular Number 2014-02, TTB announced the expansion of its list of allowable revisions to approved labels for alcohol beverages, also known as Certificate of Label Approvals (“COLAs”). The agency currently maintains a list of allowable revisions to approved labels that outlines the permitted changes that can be…
How Important are Federal Excise Taxes to the Wine Industry?
One of the major functions of the TTB, the federal agency that has primary jurisdiction over alcohol beverages in the U.S., is to collect federal excise taxes on alcohol beverages. As TTB more thoroughly explains on its website, excise tax rate depends on commodity type as well as product. See Tax…