A few months ago, I came across an article posted by the Indian Wine Academy that I thought to be particularly interesting. The article, The Growing Need for Wine Laws in India, attracted me because I so rarely come across research on India and wine law. In fact, I can say quite candidly that I’ve never even tasted Indian wine before. Setting aside any cultural orders or norms that may restrict or downright prohibit consumption of wine within India, I am still unfamiliar with any wine products exported from the country. (I am an advocate of trying different wines when I am out to eat or when I peruse the aisle of my local wine store. While I’ve had the pleasure of tasting some unique wines in the last few years, including a Tunisian bottle that just made my list of favorites and an Ethiopian bouquet of honey wine, I do not believe I am yet to taste wine from India.) While the article reposted by the Indian Wine Academy discusses the relative definition of wine laws and the functions of said laws from both a domestic and international perspective, the article itself does not actually advocate why India needs wine laws. Although the author suggests a list of considerations Indian legislators should be mindful of when implementing wine regulations, the article itself does not directly detail the caveats of the current lack of Indian legislation for wine. At the time of my reading the article, I could only surmise that the connection between espousing wine regulation in India and the international market was to promote the growth of Indian wines through transnational wine trade.
Since my initial reading of the above article, much developed with respect to the global trade of Indian wines. For example, an article titled India Struggles to Develop Taste for Wine details the limited interest in wine that seems to be prevalent throughout the country. Just recently, The Times of India announced that the Indian Grape Processing Board (“IGPB”) plans to implement legislation to regulate winemaking and, in turn, the internal standards of the Indian wine industry. (See Legislation Planned to Make Indian Wine World-Class.) The Times of India reports that, “[t]here will be laws regarding the manufacture of wine, quality, brand and marketing. All wine-related practices-manufacturing, agricultural, critical point analysis, food safety norms-will come under the legislation.” (Id.) Representatives from the IGPB indicate that these regulations will, in time, allow the international market to recognize Indian wines, as well as improve the quality of Indian wine products. (See id.) Currently, in India, “any name can be given to wine made from table grapes or wine variety grapes.” (Id.) After new legislation is implemented, the IGPB reports that a grapegrower in one region will not be allowed to label his wine as that from a different region that is geographically recognized under the legislation. To some extent, early talks seem to indicate that India will create a system that is similar to the appellation of origin system widely discussed and used as a model by many global wine producers.
While India can be expected to develop legislation with respect to its wine production and grape growing over the next few years, critics seem hopeful that there is room for India to capture a respectable slice in the international wine trade market, in addition to a development of an internal wine cultural. See Wine and the India EU Free Trade Agreement and Revisiting the Indian Wine Market. The course of the development of wine laws and regulations in India will be a topic for future consideration on this blog.
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TTB Proposes the Establishment of the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Viticultural Area
by Lindsey A. Zahn on May 15, 2012
What is the proposal for establishing the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA?
On May 8, 2012, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) announced a proposal for establishing an American Viticultural Area (“AVA”) for the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley in Douglas, Grant, and Kittitas Counties in central Washington. The notice states that TTB:
The proposal indicates that the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley is distinguishable from the Columbia Valley AVA because of the topography, soils, climate, and geography of the propose viticultural area. (See TTB Newsletter for May 11, 2012.) Accordingly, the proposed AVA is located within a “distinctive landform” that is known locally as the Quincy Basin, which has “elevations lower than the surrounding area and slopes gently to the east.” (Federal Registrer: Proposed Establishment of the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Viticultural Area.) It is noted that the floor of the basin is flatter than the surrounding region. (See id.) Additionally, according to the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, the proposed AVA has 65 soil types and the petition itself compares the soil of the proposed AVA with the soil of the current Columbia Valley AVA. (See id.) ”The tables show significant contrasts in soils within and outside of the proposed Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley viticultural area.” (Id.)
Folgosa, Portugal; Douro Valley Region.
According to the Federal Register, Joan R. Davenport, a professor of soil sciences at Washington State University, and Cameron Fries of White Heron Cellars, sent TTB a petition on behalf of vintners and grape growers in the Ancient Lakes region of central Washington promoting the establishment the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley viticultural area. (See Federal Registrer: Proposed Establishment of the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Viticultural Area.) In addition,
What are the main differences between the Columbia Valley AVA and the proposed Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA?
The Federal Register notes that petition’s information indicates that the proposed Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley viticultural area “generally has a climate that fits within the climate range of the larger Columbia Valley viticultural area as described in T.D. ATF-190, with low annual precipitation, a growing season of 180 days, and 2,570 GDD units.” (Id.) The TTB, however, highlights that while similarities do exist between Columbia Valley and the Ancient Lakes area, such similarities juxtapose with the more disparate topography, soils, and climate of what is currently an expansive area. (Id.) While the Columbia Valley viticultural area and the proposed Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley viticultural area are both basins, it is notable that Columbia Valley is “is marked by three major rivers, whereas the water features of the proposed Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley viticultural area include many small lakes and two manmade irrigation canals” and the only major river in the proposed Ancient Lakes area is the Columbia River. (Id.) Additionally, it is considerable the petition indicates that, while certain soil contents are found within the proposed viticultural area, such soils are not found in the same frequency as those in the current, established viticultural area. (Id.)
What is the notice and comment process for this proposal?
The TTB welcomes comments on this proposal until July 9, 2012. For more information about how to submit a comment, see 27 CFR Part 9 Notice No. 128 Proposed Establishment of the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Viticultural Area and to view comments associated with this rulemaking, see Docket Folder Summary: Proposed Establishment of the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Viticultural Area. As of this writing, there is currently one comment with respect to this proposal.
What is an American Viticultural Area (“AVA”)?
Sandeman Port lodge; Gaia, Portugal.
Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) defines a viticultural area for American wine as “[a] delimited grape-growing region having distinguishing features as described in part 9 of this chapter and a name and a delineated boundary as established in part 9 of this chapter.” These classifications permit vintners and consumers to “attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of a wine made from grapes grown in an area to its geographic origin.” (Federal Registrer: Proposed Establishment of the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Viticultural Area.) Structuring, classifying, and establishing viticultural areas within the United States allows winegrowers to more accurately describe the origin of their wine products and to additionally aid consumers in the identification of wines. It is widely believed, and argued by many, that the area in which wine grapes are grown can greatly characterize the wine in terms of style, taste, and overall product reputation.
Photographs are property of Lindsey A. Zahn.
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