This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

47377 

Vol. 86, No. 162 

Wednesday, August 25, 2021 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 

Bureau 

27 CFR Part 9 

[Docket No. TTB–2020–0007; T.D. TTB–172; 

Ref: Notice No. 192] 

RIN 1513–AC55 

Modification of the Boundaries of the 

Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo 

Seco Viticultural Areas 

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and 

Trade Bureau, Treasury. 

ACTION: Final rule; Treasury decision. 

SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax 

and Trade Bureau (TTB) is modifying 

the boundaries of the ‘‘Santa Lucia 

Highlands’’ viticultural area and the 

adjacent ‘‘Arroyo Seco’’ viticultural area 

in Monterey County, California. The 

boundary modifications include two 

separate actions—removing 

approximately 376 acres from the Santa 

Lucia Highlands viticultural area, and 

removing 148 acres from the Arroyo 

Seco viticultural area and placing them 

entirely within the Santa Lucia 

Highlands viticultural area. The Santa 

Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco 

viticultural areas and the modification 

areas are located entirely within the 

existing Monterey and Central Coast 

viticultural areas. 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. 

DATES: This final rule is effective 

September 24, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and 

Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco 

Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street 

NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; 

phone 202–453–1039, ext. 175. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background on Viticultural Areas 

TTB Authority 

Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol 

Administration Act (FAA Act), 27 

U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary 

of the Treasury to prescribe regulations 

for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, 

and malt beverages. The FAA Act 

provides that these regulations should, 

among other things, prohibit consumer 

deception and the use of misleading 

statements on labels and ensure that 

labels provide the consumer with 

adequate information as to the identity 

and quality of the product. The Alcohol 

and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau 

(TTB) administers the FAA Act 

pursuant to section 1111(d) of the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002, 

codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). The 

Secretary has delegated the functions 

and duties in the administration and 

enforcement of these provisions to the 

TTB Administrator through Treasury 

Order 120–01, dated December 10, 2013 

(superseding Treasury Order 120–01, 

dated January 24, 2003). 

Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 

part 4) authorizes TTB to establish 

definitive viticultural areas and regulate 

the use of their names as appellations of 

origin on wine labels and in wine 

advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB 

regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets forth 

standards for the preparation and 

submission to TTB of petitions for the 

establishment or modification of 

American viticultural areas (AVAs) and 

lists the approved AVAs. 

Definition 

Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB 

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 the regulations, and a name 

and a delineated boundary, as 

established in part 9 of the regulations. 

These designations allow vintners and 

consumers to attribute a given quality, 

reputation, or other characteristic of a 

wine made from grapes grown in an area 

to the wine’s geographic origin. The 

establishment of AVAs allows vintners 

to describe more accurately the origin of 

their wines to consumers and helps 

consumers to identify wines they may 

purchase. Establishment of an AVA is 

neither an approval nor an endorsement 

by TTB of the wine produced in that 

area. 

Requirements 

Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB 

regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2)) outlines 

the procedure for proposing an AVA 

and provides that any interested party 

may petition TTB to establish a grapegrowing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 

of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 9.12) 

prescribes standards for petitions for the 

establishment or modification of AVAs. 

Petitions to modify an AVA must 

include the following: 

• In the case of an expansion in size 

of an AVA, evidence that the proposed 

expansion area is nationally or locally 

known by the name of the AVA into 

which it would be placed; 

• In the case of a reduction in size of 

an AVA, an explanation of the extent to 

which the current AVA name does not 

apply to the excluded area; 

• An explanation of the basis for 

defining the boundary of the proposed 

areas to be realigned, including an 

explanation of how the boundary of the 

existing AVA was incorrectly or 

incompletely defined or is no longer 

accurate due to new evidence or 

changed circumstances; 

• In the case of an expansion of an 

AVA, a narrative description of the 

features of the proposed AVA affecting 

viticulture, such as climate, geology, 

soils, physical features, and elevation, 

that make the proposed expansion area 

similar to the AVA into which it would 

be placed and distinguish it from 

adjacent areas outside the established 

AVA; 

• In the case of a reduction of an 

AVA, a narrative description of the 

features of the proposed AVA affecting 

viticulture, such as climate, geology, 

soils, physical features, and elevation, 

that differentiate the proposed reduction 

area from the established AVA and 

demonstrate a greater similarity to the 

features of adjacent areas outside the 

established AVA; 

• The appropriate United States 

Geological Survey (USGS) map(s) 

showing the location of the proposed 

AVA boundary modifications, with the 

proposed boundary modifications 

clearly drawn thereon; and 

• A detailed narrative description of 

the proposed AVA boundary 

modifications based on USGS map 

markings. 


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Santa Lucia Highlands-Arroyo Seco 

Boundary Modification Petition 

TTB received a petition from Patrick 

Shabram on behalf of the Santa Lucia 

Highlands Wine Artisans, proposing to 

modify the boundary of the Santa Lucia 

Highlands AVA (27 CFR 9.139) and the 

adjacent Arroyo Seco AVA (27 CFR 

9.59). The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA 

and the Arroyo Seco AVA are both 

located within Monterey County, 

California, and are both located entirely 

within the established Monterey AVA 

(27 CFR 9.98) and the Central Coast 

AVA (27 CFR 9.75). The proposed 

boundary modifications include two 

separate actions—removing 

approximately 376 acres from the Santa 

Lucia Highlands viticultural area, and 

removing 148 acres from the Arroyo 

Seco viticultural area and placing them 

entirely within the Santa Lucia 

Highlands viticultural area. 

The first proposal would remove 

approximately 376 acres from the 

northern part of the Santa Lucia 

Highlands AVA. The petition states that 

the proposed reduction area is within 

the floodplain of the Salinas River and 

that no vineyards are planted or 

proposed in this location. The land 

removed from the Santa Lucia 

Highlands AVA would remain within 

the Monterey AVA and the Central 

Coast AVA. 

According to the petition, the 

topography and soils within the 

proposed reduction area are more 

similar to those of the Monterey and 

Central Coast AVAs than to the Santa 

Lucia Highlands AVA. For example, the 

proposed reduction area is located in 

the floodplain of the Salinas River, has 

little-to-no slope, and does not have a 

clear easterly orientation. By contrast, 

the majority of the established Santa 

Lucia Highlands AVA is located on a 

series of alluvial fans and terraces that 

have a predominately eastern 

orientation and slope angles ranging 

from 5 to 30 percent. Additionally, the 

soils in the proposed reduction area are 

primarily Psamments and Fluvents, 

which are suborders of Entisols that are 

sandy and have little organic material. 

These soils are uncommon in the 

remainder of the Santa Lucia Highlands 

AVA, where Chualar loams are the most 

common soil, comprising almost 32 

percent of the total soils. Chualar loams 

are described as very deep, well-drained 

soils formed in alluvial material from 

mixed rock sources. 

The second proposed modification 

affects a portion of the shared Santa 

Lucia Highlands-Arroyo Seco AVA 

boundary. The modification would 

remove 148 acres of foothills terrain 

from the western side of the Arroyo 

Seco AVA and place them entirely 

within the southeastern region of the 

Santa Lucia Highlands. One vineyard 

containing approximately 135 acres of 

vines would be affected by this 

boundary realignment, and the vineyard 

owner included a letter of support in the 

petition. The modification would 

reduce the size of the Arroyo Seco AVA 

by less than 1 percent and would not 

have any impact on the boundaries of 

the Monterey AVA or the Central Coast 

AVA. 

The proposed realignment area is 

located on an alluvial fan with an 

easterly orientation and slope angles 

above 5 percent. The petition states that 

these topographic features are similar to 

the alluvial fans found in the Santa 

Lucia Highlands AVA, whereas the 

majority of the Arroyo Seco AVA has a 

gentler slope that gradually becomes 

nearly flat and lacks an eastern 

orientation. The soils in the proposed 

realignment area are mostly Placentia 

sandy loam, Chualar, and Arroyo Seco 

soils. All three soils are found in both 

the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo 

Seco AVAs. However, the petition states 

that this combination of soils is more 

commonly found within the Santa Lucia 

Highlands AVA, and Placentia sandy 

loams are not common in the Arroyo 

Seco AVA outside of the proposed 

realignment area. 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and 

Comments Received 

TTB published Notice No. 192 in the 

Federal Register on July 20, 2020 (85 FR 

43754), proposing to modify the 

boundaries of the Santa Lucia Highlands 

and Arroyo Seco AVAs. In the notice, 

TTB summarized the evidence from the 

petition regarding the name, boundary, 

and distinguishing features for the 

proposed reduction area and the 

proposed realignment area. For a 

detailed description of the evidence 

relating to the name, boundary, and 

distinguishing features of the proposed 

boundary modification areas, see Notice 

No. 192. 

The comment period for Notice No. 

192 closed September 18, 2020. In 

response to Notice No. 192, TTB 

received a total of eight comments. 

However, two of the comments did not 

contain information related to the 

proposed boundary modifications, or to 

the AVA program in general, and were 

not posted to the public docket. All six 

comments that were posted to the 

public docket supported the proposed 

boundary modifications to the Santa 

Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco 

AVAs. 

TTB Determination 

After careful review of the petition 

and the comments received in response 

to Notice No. 192, TTB finds that the 

evidence provided by the petitioner 

supports the modifications of the 

boundaries of the Santa Lucia Highlands 

and Arroyo Seco AVAs. Accordingly, 

under the authority of the FAA Act, 

section 1111(d) of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002, and parts 4 and 9 

of the TTB regulations, TTB modifies 

the boundaries of both AVAs effective 

30 days from the publication date of this 

document. 

Boundary Description 

See the narrative description of the 

boundary modifications of the Santa 

Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco AVAs 

in the regulatory text published at the 

end of this final rule. 

Maps 

The petitioners provided the required 

maps, and they are listed below in the 

regulatory text. The modified Santa 

Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco AVA 

boundaries may also be viewed on the 

AVA Map Explorer on the TTB website, 

at https://www.ttb.gov/wine/ava-mapexplorer. 

Impact on Current Wine Labels and 

Transition Period 

Part 4 of the TTB regulations prohibits 

any label reference on a wine that 

indicates or implies an origin other than 

the wine’s true place of origin. For a 

wine to be labeled with an AVA name 

or with a brand name that includes an 

AVA name, at least 85 percent of the 

wine must be derived from grapes 

grown within the area represented by 

that name, and the wine must meet the 

other conditions listed in § 4.25(e)(3) of 

the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(3)). 

If the wine is not eligible for labeling 

with an AVA name and that name 

appears in the brand name, then the 

label is not in compliance and the 

bottler must change the brand name and 

obtain approval of a new label. 

Similarly, if the AVA name appears in 

another reference on the label in a 

misleading manner, the bottler would 

have to obtain approval of a new label. 

Different rules apply if a wine has a 

brand name containing an AVA name 

that was used as a brand name on a 

label approved before July 7, 1986. See 

§ 4.39(i)(2) of the TTB regulations (27 

CFR 4.39(i)(2)) for details. 

The approval of the boundary 

realignments does not affect the 

Monterey AVA or the Central Coast 

AVA. Bottlers using ‘‘Monterey’’ or 

‘‘Central Coast’’ as an appellation of 

origin or in a brand name for wines 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 25, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 47379 

made from grapes grown within the 

reduction area or the proposed 

realignment area may continue to use 

those appellations of origin if the wines 

meet the eligibility requirements for the 

appellation. 

The modification of the northern 

Santa Lucia Highlands AVA boundary 

means that wines produced mainly from 

grapes grown in the reduction area may 

no longer be labeled with ‘‘Santa Lucia 

Highlands’’ as an appellation of origin. 

However, TTB does not believe any 

label holders will be affected by this 

boundary modification because the 

petition states that no vineyards exist 

within the reduction area. 

The realignment of the shared Santa 

Lucia Highlands–Arroyo Seco AVA 

boundary allows vintners to use ‘‘Santa 

Lucia Highlands,’’ ‘‘Monterey,’’ and 

‘‘Central Coast’’ as appellations of origin 

for wines made primarily from grapes 

grown within the realignment area if the 

wines meet the eligibility requirements 

for these appellations. For wines whose 

eligibility for the Arroyo Seco AVA 

designation depends on the use of 

grapes grown in the realignment area, a 

label containing the words ‘‘Arroyo 

Seco’’ may be used on wine bottled 

within 2 years from the effective date of 

the final rule, provided that such label 

was approved before the effective date 

of this final rule and that the wine 

conforms to the standards for use of the 

label set forth in 27 CFR 4.25 or 4.39(i) 

in effect prior to this final rule. At the 

end of this 2-year transition period, if 

the wine is produced primarily from 

grapes grown in the realignment area, 

then a label containing the words 

‘‘Arroyo Seco’’ in the brand name or as 

an appellation of origin would not be 

permitted on the label. This transition 

period is described in the regulatory text 

of this final rule. TTB believes that the 

2-year transition period should provide 

affected label holders with adequate 

time to use up any old labels. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

TTB certifies that this regulation will 

not have a significant economic impact 

on a substantial number of small 

entities. The regulation imposes no new 

reporting, recordkeeping, or other 

administrative requirement. Any benefit 

derived from the use of an AVA name 

would be the result of a proprietor’s 

efforts and consumer acceptance of 

wines from that area. Therefore, no 

regulatory flexibility analysis is 

required. 

Executive Order 12866 

It has been determined that this final 

rule is not a significant regulatory action 

as defined by Executive Order 12866 of 

September 30, 1993. Therefore, no 

regulatory assessment is required. 

Drafting Information 

Karen A. Thornton of the Regulations 

and Rulings Division drafted this final 

rule. 

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9 

Wine. 

The Regulatory Amendment 

For the reasons discussed in the 

preamble, TTB amends title 27, chapter 

I, part 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as 

follows: 

PART 9—AMERICAN VITICULTURAL 

AREAS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 9 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205. 

Subpart C—Approved American 

Viticultural Areas 

■ 2. Section 9.59 is amended by: 

■ a. Removing paragraphs (c)(12) and 

(13); 

■ b. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(14) 

through (21) as paragraphs (c)(17) 

through (24); and 

■ c. Adding new paragraphs (c)(12) 

through (16) and (d). 

The additions read as follows: 

§ 9.59 Arroyo Seco. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(12) Then south following Paraiso 

Road to its intersection with an 

unnamed, light-duty road north of Clark 

Road in Section 20, T18S/R6E. 

(13) Then east-southeast along the 

unnamed road for 0.3 mile to its 

intersection with an intermittent stream. 

(14) Then southwesterly along the 

intermittent stream for 0.2 mile to its 

intersection with the western boundary 

of Section 21, T18S/R6E. 

(15) Then south-southwest in a 

straight line for approximately 0.3 mile 

to the intersection of Clark Road and the 

southern boundary of Section 21, T18S/ 

R6E. 

(16) Then west-southwest along Clark 

Road for 0.2 mile to its intersection with 

an unnamed, light-duty road. 

* * * * * 

(d) Transition period. A label 

containing the words ‘‘Arroyo Seco’’ in 

the brand name or as an appellation of 

origin approved prior to September 24, 

2021 may be used on wine bottled 

before August 25, 2023, if the wine 

conforms to the standards for use of the 

label set forth in § 4.25 or § 4.39(i) of 

this chapter in effect prior to September 

24, 2021. 

■ 3. Section 9.139 is amended by: 

■ a. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(10) 

through (22) as paragraphs (c)(18) 

through (30); 

■ b. Revising paragraphs (c)(1) through 

(9); and 

■ c. Adding new paragraphs (c)(10) 

through (17). 

The revisions and additions read as 

follows: 

§ 9.139 Santa Lucia Highlands. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(1) From the beginning point, the 

boundary follows Limekiln Creek for 

approximately 1.2 miles northeast to the 

120-foot elevation contour. 

(2) Then following the 120-foot 

elevation contour in a general 

southeasterly direction for 

approximately 0.9 mile to where it 

intersects with River Road. 

(3) Then following River Road in a 

southeasterly direction for 0.3 mile to its 

intersection with an unimproved road 

near the marked 130-foot elevation. 

(4) Then follow a straight line 

southeast to the terminus of the 110-foot 

elevation contour. 

(5) Then follow a straight line 

southeast 0.9 mile, crossing onto the 

Gonzales map, to the Salinas River. 

(6) Then follow the Salinas River in 

a south-southeast direction 0.7 mile, 

crossing onto the Palo Escrito map, to 

the intersection of the Salinas River and 

the 120-foot elevation contour. 

(7) Then follow the 120-foot contour 

south for 1 mile, then southeast to its 

intersection with River Road. 

(8) Then follow River Road east for 

0.1 mile to its intersection with an 

unnamed, light-duty road. 

(9) Then follow the unnamed road 

southeast for 0.2 mile to its intersection 

with the 160-foot elevation contour. 

(10) Then follow the 160-foot 

elevation contour southeasterly for 

approximately 5.9 miles to its 

intersection with River Road. 

(11) Then follow River Road 

southeasterly for approximately 1 mile 

to the intersection of River, Fort Romie, 

and Foothill Roads. 

(12) Then following Foothill Road in 

a southeasterly direction for 

approximately 4 miles to the junction of 

Foothill Road and Paraiso Roads on the 

Soledad map. 

(13) Then follow Paraiso Road in a 

southerly direction, crossing onto the 

Paraiso Springs map, to its intersection 

with an unnamed, light-duty road north 

of Clark Road in Section 20, T18S/R6E. 

(14) Then follow the unnamed road 

east-southeast for 0.3 mile to its 

intersection with an intermittent stream. 

(15) Then follow the intermittent 

stream in a southwesterly direction for 


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0.2 mile to its intersection with the 

western boundary of Section 21, T18S/ 

R6E. 

(16) Then follow a straight line southsouthwest for 0.3 mile to the 

intersection of Clark Road and the 

southern boundary of Section 21, T18S/ 

R6E. 

(17) Then follow Clark Road westsouthwest for 0.2 mile to its intersection 

with an unnamed, light-duty road. 

* * * * * 

Signed: May 24, 2021. 

Mary G. Ryan, 

Administrator. 

Approved: May 28, 2021. 

Timothy E. Skud, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax, Trade, and 

Tariff Policy). 

[FR Doc. 2021–18208 Filed 8–24–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4810–31–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 

Bureau 

27 CFR Part 9 

[Docket No. TTB–2020–0010; T.D. TTB–173; 

Ref: Notice No. 195] 

RIN 1513–AC71 

Establishment of the Virginia 

Peninsula Viticultural Area 

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and 

Trade Bureau, Treasury. 

ACTION: Final rule; Treasury decision. 

SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax 

and Trade Bureau (TTB) establishes the 

673,059-acre ‘‘Virginia Peninsula’’ 

viticultural area (AVA) in southeastern 

Virginia. The Virginia Peninsula 

viticultural area is not located within, 

nor does it contain, any other 

established viticultural area. 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. 

DATES: This final rule is effective 

September 24, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and 

Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco 

Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street 

NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; 

phone 202–453–1039, ext. 175. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background on Viticultural Areas 

TTB Authority 

Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol 

Administration Act (FAA Act), 27 

U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary 

of the Treasury to prescribe regulations 

for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, 

and malt beverages. The FAA Act 

provides that these regulations should, 

among other things, prohibit consumer 

deception and the use of misleading 

statements on labels and ensure that 

labels provide the consumer with 

adequate information as to the identity 

and quality of the product. The Alcohol 

and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau 

(TTB) administers the FAA Act 

pursuant to section 1111(d) of the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002, 

codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). The 

Secretary has delegated the functions 

and duties in the administration and 

enforcement of these provisions to the 

TTB Administrator through Treasury 

Order 120–01, dated December 10, 2013 

(superseding Treasury Order 120–01, 

dated January 24, 2003). 

Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 

part 4) authorizes TTB to establish 

definitive viticultural areas and regulate 

the use of their names as appellations of 

origin on wine labels and in wine 

advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB 

regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets forth 

standards for the preparation and 

submission to TTB of petitions for the 

establishment or modification of 

American viticultural areas (AVAs) and 

lists the approved AVAs. 

Definition 

Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB 

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 the regulations and, once 

approved, a name and a delineated 

boundary codified in part 9 of the 

regulations. These designations allow 

vintners and consumers to attribute a 

given quality, reputation, or other 

characteristic of a wine made from 

grapes grown in an area to the wine’s 

geographic origin. The establishment of 

AVAs allows vintners to describe more 

accurately the origin of their wines to 

consumers and helps consumers to 

identify wines they may purchase. 

Establishment of an AVA is neither an 

approval nor an endorsement by TTB of 

the wine produced in that area. 

Requirements 

Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB 

regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2)) outlines 

the procedure for proposing an AVA 

and allows any interested party to 

petition TTB to establish a grapegrowing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 

of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 9.12) 

prescribes standards for petitions to 

establish or modify AVAs. Petitions to 

establish an AVA must include the 

following: 

• Evidence that the area within the 

proposed AVA boundary is nationally 

or locally known by the AVA name 

specified in the petition; 

• An explanation of the basis for 

defining the boundary of the proposed 

AVA; 

• A narrative description of the 

features of the proposed AVA affecting 

viticulture, such as climate, geology, 

soils, physical features, and elevation, 

that make the proposed AVA distinctive 

and distinguish it from adjacent areas 

outside the proposed AVA boundary; 

• The appropriate United States 

Geological Survey (USGS) map(s) 

showing the location of the proposed 

AVA, with the boundary of the 

proposed AVA clearly drawn thereon; 

and 

• A detailed narrative description of 

the proposed AVA boundary based on 

USGS map markings. 

Virginia Peninsula AVA Petition 

TTB received a petition from the 

Williamsburg Winery proposing the 

establishment of the ‘‘Virginia 

Peninsula’’ AVA in southeastern 

Virginia. The proposed AVA covers 

673,059 acres and includes the counties 

of James City, York, New Kent, and 

Charles City, as well as the independent 

cities of Poquoson, Hampton, Newport 

News, and Williamsburg. The proposed 

Virginia Peninsula is not located within 

any other AVA. At the time the petition 

was submitted, the proposed AVA 

contained five commercial vineyards 

covering a total of approximately 112 

acres. The petition states that vineyard 

owners plan to plant an additional 61 

acres of vineyards in the next few years. 

There are also five wineries within the 

proposed AVA. The petition identifies 

the distinguishing features of the 

proposed Virginia Peninsula AVA as its 

geology and climate. 

The proposed Virginia Peninsula 

AVA, along with the regions to the 

north and south, is located on the 

Atlantic Coastal Plain, a region of low 

topographic relief with elevations 

ranging from sea level to approximately 

250 feet. The York River, along with the 

Pamunkey River that feeds it, forms the 

northern boundary of the proposed 

AVA, and the James River forms the 

southern boundary. The Atlantic Coastal 

Plain is underlain by Cenozoic-era sand, 

mud, and gravel that were deposited 

during periods of higher sea levels. 

According to the petition, the geological 

formations of the proposed AVA are 

ideal for viticulture, as the bedrock 

tends to be fractured, allowing for 

greater root depth and greater rainfall 


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