Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau August 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to expand the Russian River Valley and Northern Sonoma American viticultural areas in Sonoma County, California. The Russian River Valley viticultural area proposed expansion of 14,044 acres would increase the size of that viticultural area to 169,028 acres. The Northern Sonoma viticultural area proposed expansion of approximately 44,244 acres would increase the size of that viticultural area to 394,088 acres. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed change to our regulations.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to establish the 29,914-square mile ``Upper Mississippi River Valley'' American viticultural area in portions of southeast Minnesota, southwest Wisconsin, northwest Illinois, and northeast Iowa. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.

In response to an industry member request, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau extends the comment period for Notice No. 83, Proposed Revision of Distilled Spirits Plant Regulations, a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2008, for an additional 90 days.