In the United States, grape growing regions can be designated as an American Viticultural Area or AVA. The Wine Institute is host to the AVA database where all of the recognized American grape growing regions can be found. It is a handy database that lists the AVA by name, size, state, and effective date.This designation is modeled after the European regional system, however, unlike France, the AVA is only indicative of the geographic origin of the fruit and is not necessarily viticulturally or enologically distinct. The name proposed for the formation of a new AVA is one that is (or was at one time) known for the area locally or nationally and has recognized boundaries.1
Here is a link to a really good introduction to the BATF regulations written so that anyone can understand it: The BATF, Wine Labels, Vintages and Wine Regions
U.S. Appellation Rules for Wine Labels:
- Political area --->75%
- AVA --->85%
- Vineyard designation --->95% from named vineyard requires AVA
- Estate bottled --->100% from vineyards owned or controlled by the winery (both must be in an AVA also named)
- Grape Variety --->75%
- Vintage --->95% if year stated (since June 2006, 85% if county or multi-county AVA or state)
- Produced/Made and bottled by--->75% must be fermented, aged and bottled at indicated location)
- Cellared/Vinted and bottled by--->Not necessarily fermented at indicated location
- Reserve --->no legal meaning in the U.S.
- California and Oregon have more stringent rules
1. From Introduction to Winemaking (092VID251), U.C. Davis Online Course, 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment