Three American Viticultural Areas Established

Posted 06/17/2021 by the Office of Communications

On Thursday, June 7, 2021, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published three final rule documents in the Federal Register, each establishing a new American viticultural area (AVA), or grape growing region.  We are issuing these regulations in response to petitions submitted on behalf of local vineyard owners and vintners.  TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.

Palos Verdes Peninsula:  TTB established the approximately 15,900-acre “Palos Verdes Peninsula” viticultural area in the southwestern coastal region of Los Angeles County, California.  The Palos Verdes Peninsula viticultural area is not located within any established AVA.  See Docket No. TTB–2020–0003 on the “Regulations.gov” website for all documents and public comments related to this rulemaking.

White Bluffs: TTB established the 93,738-acre “White Bluffs” viticultural area in Franklin County, Washington.  The White Bluffs viticultural area is located within the established Columbia Valley AVA.  See Docket No. TTB–2020–0004 on the “Regulations.gov” website for all documents and public comments related to this rulemaking.

The Burn of Columbia Valley:  TTB established the approximately 16,870-acre “The Burn of Columbia Valley” viticultural area in Klickitat County, Washington.  The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA is located within the established Columbia Valley viticultural area.  See Docket No. TTB–2020–0005 on the “Regulations.gov” website for all documents and public comments related to this rulemaking.

All three final rules are effective on July 19, 2021.  Bottlers who wish to label their wines with any of these new AVAs as appellations of origin must obtain a new Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for the label, even if the currently approved label already contains another AVA appellation of origin.  Please do not submit COLA applications for labels using the new AVAs until July 19, 2021.

Page last reviewed: June 17, 2021
Page last updated: June 17, 2021
Maintained by: Office of Communications