TTB Approves Vintage Dating for Wines Labeled with an American Appellation of Origin

TTB will now allow wines labeled with a country appellation of origin, including American appellation wines, to disclose their vintage.  Until the announcement of this new rule, TTB had long prohibited wines with a country appellation of origin from including a vintage date.  In its Final Rule, TTB states:

This amendment will provide greater grape sourcing and wine labeling flexibility to winemakers, both domestic and foreign, while still ensuring that consumers are provided with adequate information as to the identity and quality of the wines they purchase.

WineAmerica was instrumental in the adoption of this new standard.  The publication of the Final Rule follows numerous meetings over the past few years to determine TTB’s openness to a regulatory change, and WineAmerica comments in favor of a European Commission petition submitted late last year.  In the adoption of its Final Rule, TTB quoted extensively from our comments.

The Final Rule will go into effect on November 13.  WineAmerica will work with our members and TTB to ensure a smooth transition.

You can find WineAmerica’s comment in support of the new rule here, and TTB’s Final Rule here.

Farm Bill Now Coalition Unites Nation’s Farm Groups in Push for New Farm Bill

The following is a press release from the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, of which WineAmerica is a member.

Farm Bill Now Coalition Unites Nation’s Farm Groups in

Push for New Farm Bill

New website, events in Iowa, DC, highlight effort to provide American farmers with certainty, security

WASHINGTON, DC – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has joined a coalition of 39 of the nation’s foremost agricultural organizations to raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill before current farm programs expire in September.

The coalition, called Farm Bill Now, comprises associations and coalitions representing commodity crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, state and local governments, minor crops, energy and bio-based product groups, farm cooperatives and financial groups, as well as the nation’s two largest farm groups, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union. Each organization has strong and distinct policy priorities, yet all 39 are committed to passing a new, comprehensive bill this year.

The group issued the following statement titled “Why We Need a Farm Bill,” on the importance of new farm legislation for America’s farmers:

“Calling the farm bill the ‘farm bill’ suggests its impact is limited only to farms and to the rural areas to which they are so closely tied. It’s really a jobs bill. A food bill. A conservation bill. A research bill. An energy bill. A trade bill. In other words, it’s a bill that affects every American.

“The farm bill affects our nation’s ability to provide the necessities of life for a global population projected to pass 9 billion by 2050. Here at home, it affects an industry that provides 23 million—or 1 in every 12—American jobs.

“The farm bill has broad impact on our citizens and our economy. It provides healthy foods to millions of schoolchildren and nutritious options to families in need. It develops and expands trade with valuable foreign markets. By reducing spending significantly compared to prior farm bills, the proposals pending right now in Congress address the need to get our nation’s fiscal house in order.

“And yes, it benefits American farms—98 percent of which are owned and operated by families. It helps big farms and small farms, major crops and specialty crops, organic farmers and conventional farmers, cattle ranchers and cotton ginners, farmers markets and national suppliers, and the vast range of other pursuits that make up American agriculture. This year, it would help farmers tackle the challenges posed by the worst drought in a generation.

“While Congress waits to finish the farm bill, we are united in asking all Americans to encourage legislators—home for summer town hall meetings and speeches—to finish this vital legislation before the current farm and food law expires in September. After all, it’s your bill, too.”

In addition to the statement, Farm Bill Now launched an interactive web portal at www.FarmBillNow.com, through which visitors can connect with their members of Congress and show their support for a new five-year farm bill.  Using messages to Congress via social media, event locations and times and an online petition, FarmBillNow.com gives farmers and consumers the resources they need to make their voices heard, telling Congress that the farm bill needs to be completed before the current farm food law expires in September.

In the coming weeks, Farm Bill Now will hold events in Iowa and on Capitol Hill to underscore the message.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 28, farmers representing multiple groups within the coalition will discuss the Farm Bill Now effort at the annual Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, the nation’s largest outdoor farm show.

On the morning of September 12, coalition representatives will gather at the U.S. Capitol to encourage Congress to pass the bill before programs expire.

For more information on Farm Bill Now and to get involved in ensuring that American agriculture has the security and certainty that it needs, please visit FarmBillNow.com.

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Farm Bill Now is a coalition of 39 agricultural groups, each with strong and varied policy priorities, yet all committed to passing a farm bill this year. Learn more at www.FarmBillNow.com.

25x'25 Alliance

Agricultural Retailers Association

American Beekeeping Federation

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Feed Industry Association

American Pulse Association

American Seed Trade Association

American Sheep Industry Association

American Soybean Association

American Sugar Alliance

Biobased Products Coalition

Council of State Governments East

Council of State Governments Midwest

Farm Credit Council

National Association of Wheat Growers

National Barley Growers Association

National Cattlemen's Beef Association

National Corn Growers Association

National Cotton Council

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Farmers Union

National Milk Producers Federation

National Potato Council

National Sorghum Producers

National Sunflower Association

Northharvest Bean Growers Association

Northeast State Association for Agricultural Stewardship

Produce Marketing Association

Southern Peanut Farmers Federation

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance

State Agriculture and Rural Leaders

United Dairymen of Arizona

United Fresh Produce Association

U.S. Canola Association

U.S. Dry Bean Council

USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council

USA Rice Federation

Western Growers Association

Western Peanut Growers Association

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is a national coalition of more than 120 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products. The alliance was established to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop agriculture and improve the health of Americans by broadening the scope of U.S. agricultural public policy. For more information, visit www.strongeragriculture.org.

Registration is Open for the 2012 Fall Board of Directors and Membership Meeting

WineAmerica’s Fall membership meeting is an important opportunity for members to voice their vision of wine policy for the coming year.

Meet with leaders in the wine industry from across the country and contribute to shaping the future of WineAmerica in scenic Sonoma County.

Welcome reception hosted by Jackson Family Wines at Hartford Family Winery and dinner hosted by Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

To register:  http://www.wineamerica.org/membership/fallmeeting.cfm

or contact Michael Kaiser at mkaiser@wineamerica.org or 202-223-5172

WineAmerica Opposes Federal Agency Merger Placing Wine Consumption with Illicit Drug Use

WineAmerica joins industry colleagues in opposing a federal agency merger that would place wine consumption under the same umbrella as illicit drug use.   The following letter was signed by: The Beer Institute, The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, The Wine Institute, Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, The American Beverage Institute, The American Beverage Licensees, WineAmerica, The National Association of Beverage Importers, and The National Beer Wholesalers Association. 

August 3, 2012

Ms. Ellen Murray, Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources
Mr. Jim Esquea, Assistant Secretary for Legislation
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Ms. Murray and Mr. Esquea,

 As representatives of the hospitality industry, we would like to thank you very much for meeting with
our leaders on Wednesday, August 1st, 2012 regarding the proposed merger of  the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Our
group was most appreciative of your time and attention.

We wish to reemphasize by this letter that while we greatly appreciate the sincere intentions of those
who support such a merger, we believe it is not in the best interest of society and would greatly reduce
the emphasis necessary to solve the vast majority of the issues related to the harmful use of alcohol. As
we discussed in our meeting, we agree that there are aspects of addiction research that would benefit
from a more integrated approach across scientific Institutes. That said we believe the vast majority of
issues related to the harmful use of alcohol fall outside this narrow construct and are of such
importance that a free standing Institute within NIH dedicated to research in this area is essential.

Moreover, we believe the intent of the Scientific Management Review Board (SMRB) can be better and more effectively achieved through a functional merger rather than a potentially expensive, contentious and risky structural merger. In this regard we note that NIH has successfully executed several functional mergers and cite effective work along these lines in the areas of neuroscience and neurotherapeutic treatment. We urge the Secretary’soffice to pursue this option. This approach would have the full support of the hospitality industry.

It is important also to recognize that the vast majority of those who consume beverage alcohol do so in
moderation and that the 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines make it clear that the moderate consumption of
beverage alcohol can be part of a normal healthy diet. Our segment of the hospitality industry, 5.3
million strong, is made up of more than 200,000 restaurants and taverns, thousands of wineries and
farms, breweries, distillers, importers, retailers, wholesalers and suppliers. Neither these hard working
people nor our millions of responsible consumers is comfortable having their quality legal products
considered in the same light as illegal and illicit drugs and have historically opposed any such
association.

We strongly oppose the harmful use of beverage alcohol and have long supported evidence-based
programs to prevent and reduce alcohol abuse, tough laws and firm enforcement. In the same vein we
have and continue to support the critical research conducted by NIAAA. We also recognize the need for
integrated research across Institute boundaries in this field. As previously stated, we strongly believe
this can best be achieved through a functional merger. We stand ready to work with you to affect a
solution along these lines that is best for society and public health.

 

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Urges Action on 2012 Farm Bill

The following is a press release from the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, of which WineAmerica is a member.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 27, 2012

Ray Gilmer, United Fresh Produce Assoc. 202-303-3425

Lisa Lochridge, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Assoc. 321-214-5206

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Urges Action on 2012 Farm Bill 

WASHINGTON, D.C – Both the Senate and the House Agriculture Committees have made a strong effort to advance their respective versions of the 2012 Farm Bill.  Based on the current information regarding the House moving forward this week with a one-year extension of the 2008 Farm Bill along with disaster assistance, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has released the following statement:

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance strongly supports congressional efforts to reauthorize the Farm Bill this year.  Both the House and Senate have made significant progress in this endeavor by making critical enhancements and reforms to key programs important to specialty crop producers in this country. We urge Congress to continue moving forward with a legislative process that best achieves those objectives this year.

We are concerned that a one-year extension falls short of that goal and hinders access to key programs for our producers directly related to research, value-added producer grants, and important programs that enhance domestic production. An extension of the current law would be a missed opportunity to enact federal agriculture policy that increases access for specialty crops and fosters competition for our industry both domestically and globally.

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The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is a national coalition of more than 120 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products. The alliance was established to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop agriculture and improve the health of Americans by broadening the scope of U.S. agricultural public policy. For more information, visit www.strongeragriculture.org. 

House Agriculture Committee Passes Its Version of the Farm Bill

Last night (early this morning) the House Agriculture Committee passed its version of  the Farm Bill (HR 6083) by a bi-partisan vote of 35 Y – 11 N. The 11 Republican and Democrat committee members voting against the bill were: GOP Reps. Bob Goodlatte (VA), Marlin Stutzman (IN), Bob Gibbs (OH) and Tim Huelskamp (KS.); and Democratic Reps. Joe Baca (CA.), David Scott (GA.), Chellie Pingree (ME), Joe Courtney (CT), Marcia Fudge (OH), Terri Sewell (AL) and Jim McGovern (MA). The two primary motivating factors for the NO votes were budgetary objections and the $16.5 billion dollar cut to the SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps. This $957 billion bill maintains critical funding levels for our industry priorities including the Specialty Crop Block Grants, Specialty Crop Research Initiative, National Clean Plant Network, the Market Access Program (MAP), and Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG). While a victory for Chairman Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Peterson (D-MN), Chairman Lucas will now have to push House Republican leadership to schedule a floor vote with only 13 legislative days left before August recess. If the legislation passes on a floor vote, House and Senate conferees will then be named to work on a compromise between the two versions of the bill. For more information contact WineAmerica's Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Montgomery at jmontgomery@wineamerica.org

WineAmerica Opposes Proposed Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Affecting Farm Wineries in Fauquier County, Virginia

The following letter was sent to the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors on Thursday, July 12, 2012

WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries, on behalf of our member wineries in Virginia and across the nation, echo the concerns of the Fauquier Wine Council, the Virginia Wineries Association, and the Virginia Wine Council in opposing the proposed amendment to the Fauquier County zoning ordinance affecting local farm wineries.

WineAmerica is comprised of approximately 800 winery members in nearly every state. Through our state association partnerships, we represent the vast majority of the nearly 8,000 American wineries at the state, federal, and international levels. The mission of WineAmerica is to encourage sound public policy that will allow for the growth of the American wine industry, and to provide wineries market opportunities both domestically and abroad.

Over the past three decades, wineries have played an extraordinary role in the preservation of agricultural land and the development of local economies throughout Virginia and across the U.S. Much of this benefit accrues to localities like Fauquier County in the form of agritourism and related business growth. Consumers who visit wineries are likely to visit nearby restaurants, inns and other tourist destinations.

This success has been the conscious result of local and state policies that promote sustainable winery development. To advance their essential agricultural character, wineries in Virginia and across the U.S., commonly employ a wide array of marketing tools, including operation of tasting rooms, wine festivals, winery dinners, and winery concerts. Successful localities narrowly tailor their zoning laws to reflect the broadly positive cultural benefits of winery activities and events. As the Oregon Supreme Court has noted, reasonable local land use restrictions “reinforce the profitability of [winery] operations and the likelihood that agricultural use of the land will continue.”

Virginia Code Annotated § 15.2-2288.3(A) codifies these principles by recognizing “the agricultural nature of” local winery “activities and events.” Virginia law prohibits local regulation of such “activities and events” that “are usual and customary for farm wineries throughout the Commonwealth…unless there is a substantial impact on the health, safety, or welfare of the public.” (emphasis added).

Fauquier County is plainly prohibited from regulating with the kind of overbroad and unreasonably proscriptive regulation proposed in the zoning ordinance amendment. See id. Nevertheless, Fauquier is not the first locality to deal with winery activity and event regulation. We urge you to consider the narrowly tailored strategies already employed by countless jurisdictions throughout the U.S. that allow wineries the space to productively operate while protecting local health, safety, and welfare. The Board of Supervisors should not risk implementing bad policy that would seriously harm the many leading Virginia wineries that call Fauquier home.

Thoughtful regulation can reinforce the success of winery operations. We urge you to support the continued dynamic development of your local businesses, and to reject the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance affecting farm wineries.