California vintners want tougher fed labeling rules

Label denotes grape source

• From the Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat

At the behest of the [California] wine industry, a new proposal would toughen federal labeling standards on a bottle of wine, controlling more tightly wineries’ claims of vintage dates, varietals and geographic region where the grapes are grown.

Local vintners have complained that exemptions currently allowed by the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau are misleading consumers and hurting the reputation of their local wine regions.

“This was our baby,” said Rex Stults, who heads up government relations for the Napa Valley Vintners trade group. “We are such passionate advocates for the integrity of the Napa name.”

The Brooklyn Winery, for example, has made a name for itself in New York by crafting boutique, small-batch wines that appeal to affluent consumers around the New York metro region. It sources grapes from New York State, but also reaches beyond, even to Sonoma County, CA, trucking grapes in a refrigerated truck almost 3,000 miles to make its wine. About 40% of its grapes come from the West Coast. Its 2012 Pinot Noir from the Carneros region sells for $45 and, because of federal rules, can be sold only within New York State.

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