OREGON LOOSENS TOUGH LABELING LAWS
Known for having tough wine labeling laws, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) has agreed to relax some of its requirements. As you would expect, some Oregon wineries are in favor of the changes while others are much more skeptical.
VARIETALS EXEMPT FROM 90% REQUIREMENT. Eleven new grape varieties will be exempted from the 90% minimum requirement for varietal labeling. Much to the relief of producers in southern Oregon, those eleven varieties may now blend with up to 25% of other grape varieties and still carry the name of the primary grape. The 11 new varieties include Carménère, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. Previously, only seven Bordeaux varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc – could be labeled with 75% varietal content per Federal Regulation.
The remaining 54 varieties, which make up more than 90% of Oregon wine production, will still require a minimum 90%. Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling, among others, fall under this category.
PINOT GRIGIO NOW ALLOWED. Oregon producers can now also use either Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio on Oregon wine labels. Prior to these changes, only Pinot Gris could be used on the bottle because the 1977 regulations permitted the use of only one name.
GEOGRAPHICAL DESIGNATIONS. Oregon wines may now source 5% of their grapes from a region other than what is specified on the label. At the urging of the Oregon Winegrowers Association, the OLCC has updated the 30-year-old statewide wine labeling regulation that required wines to use 100% of the grapes hailing from the geographical destination featured on the bottle. This change was made to allow for real world cellar practices, such as topping when the wine in barrel evaporates. The current TTB regulation is 85%.
To read more about the new regulations, click here.
VARIETALS EXEMPT FROM 90% REQUIREMENT. Eleven new grape varieties will be exempted from the 90% minimum requirement for varietal labeling. Much to the relief of producers in southern Oregon, those eleven varieties may now blend with up to 25% of other grape varieties and still carry the name of the primary grape. The 11 new varieties include Carménère, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. Previously, only seven Bordeaux varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc – could be labeled with 75% varietal content per Federal Regulation.
The remaining 54 varieties, which make up more than 90% of Oregon wine production, will still require a minimum 90%. Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling, among others, fall under this category.
PINOT GRIGIO NOW ALLOWED. Oregon producers can now also use either Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio on Oregon wine labels. Prior to these changes, only Pinot Gris could be used on the bottle because the 1977 regulations permitted the use of only one name.
GEOGRAPHICAL DESIGNATIONS. Oregon wines may now source 5% of their grapes from a region other than what is specified on the label. At the urging of the Oregon Winegrowers Association, the OLCC has updated the 30-year-old statewide wine labeling regulation that required wines to use 100% of the grapes hailing from the geographical destination featured on the bottle. This change was made to allow for real world cellar practices, such as topping when the wine in barrel evaporates. The current TTB regulation is 85%.
To read more about the new regulations, click here.
posted at 11:36 AM
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