and the Alcohol Beverage Labeling Act (Health Warning Statement) and ATF will also forward the applications to AMS for concurrent review to determine if they meet the requirements of the NOP as well. Please continue to submit a copy of your certification as an organic producer, issued by a USDA accredited certifying agent along with each label application that contains organic references.

Industry members who would like more information about the NOP requirements can visit www.ams.usda.gov/nop. ALFD will publish more detailed guidance on organic labeling of alcohol beverages in the near future. ATF is also happy to answer any questions about the impact of NOP on the alcohol beverage industry. You can contact us at 1-866-927-2553 or by e-mail at alfd@atfhq.atf.treas.gov.

"A Very Good Year for Vitners"

By Jerry Shriver, USA Today
(Editing and Additional Comments by Phil Coy,
513-684-2322)

According to an article that appeared in the June 28, 2002, edition of USA Today, a new winery that recently opened in Burlington, North Dakota marked a significant turning point for the wine industry. When this new winemaker was issued their ATF permit and registry number on April 17th, it became the first time when there's at least one Federally bonded winery in all 50 States.

USA Today wrote: "The [Burlington] venture joins a parade of more than 600 wineries that have opened during the past decade." The wine industry credits growth to "improved winemaking, approaches to production that allow better wines to be made in more locations, liberalized laws that make it easier to open a profitable tasting room, a surge in wine tourism and a growing thirst for locally made products." Although most of the growth has occurred in California, Washington, Oregon and New York (those states accounted for 98% of the $20 billion worth of table wine produced and sold in the USA last year), other states such as Indiana, Illinois and Texas are also enjoying mini-booms.

Of course, employees of the ATF National Revenue Center' s (NRC) Wine Section like to think it's the top-notch service they strive to provide to their customers, that's helped fuel the small-scale winemaking "explosion."

The NRC's Wine Section staff is ready and willing to provide you with the necessary paperwork and help guide you through the process of obtaining a Federal permit. For information and assistance with this and other ATF requirements, please contact them at 800-398-2282 (513-684-3334) or natlrevctr@cinc.atf.treas.gov.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

By Joanne Brady (215)597-5288

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (notice No. 947) on July 9, 2002, that proposes the establishment of a viticultural area to be known as "Oak Knoll District." The notice results from a petition filed by Ms. Janet Trefethen, who heads the Oak Knoll District Committee.

The proposed area is located at the cooler, southern end of the Napa Valley in California. If established as a viticultural area, Oak Knoll District would border the Mt. Veeder viticultural area to the west and the Yountville viticultural area to the north. The area encompasses approximately 9, 940 acres. About 4, 040 of those acres are suitable for grape vines.

ATF requests comments on this proposal. All comments must be received by September 9, 2002. Written comments should be sent to:

Chief, Regulations Division
Bureau of ATF
Post office Box 50221
Washington, DC 20091-0221
Attn: Notice No. 947

Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to nprm@atfhq.atf.treas.gov or by fax (if five pages or less) to (215)597-7003.