Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/197178
EAST COAST WATCH MARGUERITE THOMAS Using Out-of-State Grapes: Is honesty the best policy? "I operate a domestic winery and I am making wine from grapes or juice that I have purchased from another state or country," the question began.""What appellation of origin may I use?" "This is a complicated question," replied the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on its website (ttb.gov.gov/wine/wine-faq. shtml#w24),"and the answer depends on the particular circumstances." If the situation is complicated for a vintner, imagine how challenging it can be for the consumer trying to make sense of all the verbiage on a wine bottle's label. Savvy wine buyers are generally aware that, according to TTB regulations, a wine is entitled to an appellation of origin if at least 75% of its volume is derived from fruit or agricultural products grown in the place or region indicated by such appellation. Yet when we read "American" on a label from a winery located in, say, New Jersey, it's impossible for any of us to know the source of the raw material. It might have been purchased from a close neighboring state, but a better guess would be California, the nation's leading wine grape producer and supplier of grapes and juice to the rest of the nation, as well as to its own producers. How much wine is actually made using materials purchased from another state? "It is difficult to say how widespread the use + Labeling regulations of out-of-state grapes or concerning the source of juice is," said Ann Heidig, grapes and/or juice can be former president of the Virconfusing to consumers. ginia Wineries Association + Vintners source fruit from and co-owner of Lake Anna other states for many Winery and Oak Hill Farm reasons, including low & Vineyard in Virginia. "We crop yields due to extreme don't really have any data. weather and/or disease in The practice is frowned the vineyard. upon, and few, if any, will admit to it. It's a thing + Some politicians and vinthanging out there that no ners favor liberalizing state one seems able to dispel. regulations, while others But we are attempting to want the opposite. encourage more planting to + Winemakers and journalists increase the availability of speak out in favor of more fruit in Virginia." honest labeling. There are many reasons why a winery might use out-of-state grapes or juice: AT A GLANCE "AMERICAN" WINE w w w. v w m m e d i a.com N ov - D ec 2013 | V INE YA RD & W INE RY M A N A G EM EN T 27