View all TTB COVID-19 Guidance

TTB NEWSLETTER | Weekly News

November 13, 2020

IN THIS ISSUE

Greetings! This week’s top news includes two American Viticultural Area (AVA) proposals, and information about applying to establish a new AVA or modify an existing one.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON TWO AVA PROPOSALS

In the November 10, 2020 Federal Register, we published proposals to establish one new American Viticultural Area (AVA), i.e., grape growing region, and to expand the boundaries of another established AVA. We are accepting comments through January 11, 2021, on both proposals. You can view the proposed boundaries of each on our AVA Map Explorer.

Clarksburg expansion. Notice No. 198. The Clarksburg AVA is located in portions of Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties, in California, and it is not located within any established AVA. The proposal would expand the 64,640-acre AVA by approximately 27,945 acres. We are making this proposal in response to a petition filed on behalf of the local grape growers and winemakers.

See Docket No. TTB–2020–0013 at Regulations.gov for additional details and to submit comments electronically.

Ulupalakua. Notice No.199. The proposed 70-acre AVA is located in Hawaii, and is not located within any established viticultural area. We are making this proposal in response to a petition filed on behalf of the local grape growers and winemakers.

See Docket No. TTB–2020–0014 at Regulations.gov for additional details and to submit comments electronically.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO ESTABLISH OR MODIFY AN AVA?

Any individual or group can submit a petition to establish a new American Viticultural Area (AVA) or to modify the boundaries of an existing one.

What Should an AVA Petition Include?

The main elements of an AVA petition include:

1. A proposed name, as well as evidence showing that the name is currently used to describe the region of the proposed AVA.
2. A description of the geographic and/or climatic features that distinguish the proposed AVA from the surrounding regions and have an effect on how grapes are grown, along with evidence to support your claims of these distinctive features.
3. A written description of the proposed AVA boundary and the appropriate U.S.G.S topographic maps with the boundary drawn on it.

Where Can I Find More Information on Writing and Submitting an AVA Petition?

TTB’s AVA Manual for Petitioners includes guidance on how to prepare and submit a petition to establish a new AVA or modify the boundary of an existing one.  It also includes tables that can help you organize the information on the distinguishing features of your proposed AVA and contrast them with the features of the surrounding regions.

You can also review The ABCs of AVAs, a presentation which covers the basic requirements for a petition to establish a new AVA and the most common problems we see in the petitions we receive. The presentation also describes the rulemaking steps TTB takes once we accept a petition in order to complete the AVA establishment process.

TTB Newsletter Archives >>>

Please visit the homepage of TTB.gov for the most recent news, or visit the Contact Us page if you have any questions.