TTB UNEXPECTABLY HALTS AVA APPROVALS, HURTING CALISTOGA
The TTB has unexpectedly proposed to halt the application approval process of hundred of AVA petitions, including Calistoga (a region within Napa), in order to review the national application process. According to several local reports, the suspension is due to several conflicts with the AVA process, which the Treasury hopes to improve by making it clearer and more rigorous. Despite a four-year struggle by Calistoga vintners, Calistoga remains the only region in Napa that does not have its own AVA.
The problem mainly lies in the fact that two vintners — Calistoga Cellars and Calistoga Estates —use the name in their brand but do not use Calistoga grapes. If the AVA were approved, the two wineries would have to either change their title or begin using at 85% of Calistoga grapes, says the TTB.
“The current Calistoga petition is an example of a petition that would affect an established brand, and asks for establishment of an AVA within an AVA. The complexities of these issues have led us to suspend action on approval of this and other similar petitions while we consider revising the existing regulatory approach,” said Kevin Fromer, assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the TTB.
As you would expect, the wine world is not happy and Calistoga winemakers in particular are frustrated. Rep. Thompson and 53 other members of the U.S. Congressional Wine Caucus sent a letter in response to Fromer's proposed revisions:
“Your proposed suspension of the existing rules related to AVAs, including halting all processing of petitions for AVAs within AVAs, will create chaos in the wine industry, and deprive many wineries with pending petitions of their rights under your current regulations.”
The TTB has said it would not suspend action on all AVA applications, just those for sub-applications, and those affecting existing brand names (including Calistoga), according to Wines and Vines.
The problem mainly lies in the fact that two vintners — Calistoga Cellars and Calistoga Estates —use the name in their brand but do not use Calistoga grapes. If the AVA were approved, the two wineries would have to either change their title or begin using at 85% of Calistoga grapes, says the TTB.
“The current Calistoga petition is an example of a petition that would affect an established brand, and asks for establishment of an AVA within an AVA. The complexities of these issues have led us to suspend action on approval of this and other similar petitions while we consider revising the existing regulatory approach,” said Kevin Fromer, assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the TTB.
As you would expect, the wine world is not happy and Calistoga winemakers in particular are frustrated. Rep. Thompson and 53 other members of the U.S. Congressional Wine Caucus sent a letter in response to Fromer's proposed revisions:
“Your proposed suspension of the existing rules related to AVAs, including halting all processing of petitions for AVAs within AVAs, will create chaos in the wine industry, and deprive many wineries with pending petitions of their rights under your current regulations.”
The TTB has said it would not suspend action on all AVA applications, just those for sub-applications, and those affecting existing brand names (including Calistoga), according to Wines and Vines.
posted at 1:58 PM
<< Home