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) viticultural area in western Iowa and northwestern Missouri, but is not located within and does not contain any other AVAs. The agency received a petition from Shirley Frederiksen, on behalf of the Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development Inc. and the Western Iowa Grape Growers, that proposed the establishment of the new AVA. According to TTB’s notice in the Federal Register, the proposed AVA contains 66 commercial vineyards that encompass 112 acres and 13 bonded wineries. Distinguishing features include soil, topography, and climate. Interestingly, there are several wineries currently using the word “Loess” on their labels—one of which is the Loess Hills Vineyard and Winery, which appears to be located within the proposed AVA—but several labels refer to wineries located outside. One label even suggests that loess means “unconsolidated, wind deposited sediment composed largely of silt-sized quartz particles showing little or no stratification” (consistent with its dictionary definition) and occurs “widely” in central U.S. In theory, it is possible TTB will find “Loess Hills” viticulturally significant but not the term “Loess” by itself.
AVAs exist to allow vintners to better designate their wines as viticultural areas have distinct profiles and can often relay significant information to a consumer about a wine. In a proposed rule, TTB summarizes evidence received from petitions detailing the name, boundaries, and distinguishing features of each proposed AVA. Evidence often includes the meso-climactic, geological, and historical information of each individual AVA.
TTB is also accepting comments through August 17, 2015 on the proposed expansion of the currently-established AVA Willamette Valley. The AVA is presently about 5,360-square miles, and the proposal seeks to expand the AVA by 29 square miles. See Proposed Expansion of the Willamette Valley Viticultural Area (Notice No. 152, Docket No. TTB-2015-0008).
For more information on wine or alcohol law, AVAs, or TTB matters, please contact Lindsey Zahn.
DISCLAIMER: This blog post is for general information purposes only, is not intended to constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship results. Please consult your own attorney for legal advice.