Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/07/21/2016-17274/establishment-of-the-tip-of-the-mitt-viticultural-area
Timestamp: 2018-08-16 18:52:09
Document Index: 417016745

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u20099', 'arts 4', 'art 4', '§\u20094', '§\u20099', '§\u20099']

Federal Register :: Establishment of the Tip of the Mitt Viticultural Area
A Rule by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on 07/21/2016
47289-47291 (3 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-17274 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-17274
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 of the Treasury has delegated various authorities through Treasury Department Order 120-01, dated December 10, 2013 (superseding Treasury Order 120-01, dated January 24, 2003), to the TTB Administrator to perform the functions and duties in the administration and enforcement of these laws.
TTB received a petition from the Straits Area Grape Growers Association, on behalf of winery and vineyard owners in the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, proposing the establishment of the “Tip of the Mitt” AVA. The proposed AVA contains approximately 2,760 square miles, and there are 41 commercially-producing vineyards covering a total of 94 acres distributed throughout the proposed AVA, along with 8 wineries. According to the petition, an additional 48 acres of vineyards and 4 new wineries are planned for the near future. The proposed Tip of the Mitt AVA is not located within any established AVA. Start Printed Page 47290According to the petition, the distinguishing features of the proposed Tip of the Mitt AVA include its climate and soils.
The proposed AVA is bordered by Grand Traverse Bay, Little Traverse Bay, and Lake Michigan to the west; the Straits of Mackinac to the north; and Lake Huron to the east. The presence of large bodies of water on three sides of the proposed AVA has a moderating effect on the climate, providing slightly warmer annual high temperatures than are found south of the proposed AVA. The proposed Tip of the Mitt AVA also has fewer days with high temperatures below both 0 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit than the region to the south, meaning that temperatures do not drop low enough to cause severe damage to cold-hardy grape varietals such as Marechal Foch and Leon Millot. The proposed AVA also has a longer growing season and higher growing degree day accumulations than the region to the south, providing ample time for mid-to-late season grape varietals such as Frontenac to ripen.
With respect to soils, the proposed Tip of the Mitt AVA predominately contains coarse-textured glacial till and Lacustrine sand and gravel. Soils that contain either glacial outwash sand or ice-contact sand and gravel are present only in small amounts within the proposed AVA and are more common in the region to the south. The soils within the proposed AVA have high levels of organic matter, which prevents nutrients from leaching rapidly. The soils also have high water-holding capacities, so vineyard owners take steps to reduce moisture accumulation, such as planting cover crops between rows to absorb excess water. By contrast, the soils in the region south of the proposed AVA have lower levels of organic matter and lower water-holding capacities. Finally, the soils within the proposed AVA do not heat as quickly in the spring as soils that contain high levels of sand and gravel, so bud-break is naturally delayed until the risk of late spring frosts has passed.
TTB published Notice No. 155 in the Federal Register on August 6, 2015 (80 FR 46883), proposing to establish the Tip of the Mitt AVA. In the notice, TTB summarized the evidence from the petition regarding the name, boundary, and distinguishing features for the proposed AVA. The notice also compared the distinguishing features of the proposed AVA to the features of the surrounding areas. For a detailed description of the evidence relating to the name, boundary, and distinguishing features of the proposed AVA, and for a detailed comparison of the distinguishing features of the proposed AVA to the surrounding areas, see Notice No. 155.
In Notice No. 155, TTB solicited comments on the accuracy of the name, boundary, and other required information submitted in support of the petition. The comment period closed on October 5, 2015. TTB received 14 comments in response to Notice No. 155. All 14 commenters supported the establishment of the proposed AVA. Commenters included self-identified local winery and vineyard owners and operators; members of the Straits Area Grape Growers Association; the Corporate and Community Education Training Coordinator for North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI; an Agricultural Innovation Counselor with Michigan State University's Product Center; and several individuals who did not describe any affiliation with the wine industry. Many of the commenters stated that the region's climate and the ability to grow a variety of cold-hardy grape varietals distinguish the proposed AVA from the region to the south. Several of the commenters supported the proposed AVA as a way to showcase the region's wines and promote tourism to the region. TTB did not receive any comments opposing the establishment of the proposed AVA.
One commenter (comment 6) supported the establishment of the proposed AVA but did not support the proposed name. The commenter stated that he believed “Tip of the Mitt” was a “whimsical” name that is “Michigan slang” and “doesn't provide the public with an accurate geographical description” of where the proposed AVA is located. The commenter suggested “The Straits” or “Little Traverse” as alternate names for the proposed AVA, but did not provide any evidence to support the alternative AVA names.
Section 9.12(a)(1) of TTB regulations requires, among other things, that: (1) A proposed AVA name be currently and directly associated with an area in which viticulture exists; (2) the proposed name apply to all of the area within the proposed AVA; and (3) the region of the proposed AVA be known nationally or locally by the proposed name. Although “Little Traverse” and “The Straits” both refer to geographical features within the proposed AVA, the commenter did not provide evidence to show that the entire region of the proposed AVA is known locally or nationally by either of those names. Additionally, “The Straits” could apply to any of the numerous straits in the United States and is therefore unsuitable as an AVA name without a geographical modifier. Therefore, TTB does not believe that either “Little Traverse” or “The Straits” meets the regulatory requirements for an AVA name.
TTB believes that the petition to establish the Tip of the Mitt AVA provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the name “Tip of the Mitt” is widely used throughout the proposed AVA to describe the region. The petition included names of local businesses and organizations and regional events that use the phrase in their names. Therefore, TTB has determined that “Tip of the Mitt” meets the regulatory requirements for an AVA name as set forth in § 9.12(a).
After careful review of the petition and the comments received, TTB finds that the evidence provided by the petitioner supports the establishment of the Tip of the Mitt AVA. 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 establishes the “Tip of the Mitt” AVA in the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, effective 30 days from the publication date of this document.
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 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 Start Printed Page 47291another 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 27 CFR 4.39(i)(2) for details.
With the establishment of this AVA, its name, “Tip of the Mitt,” will be recognized as a name of viticultural significance under § 4.39(i)(3) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.39(i)(3)). The text of the regulation clarifies this point. Consequently, wine bottlers using the name “Tip of the Mitt” in a brand name, including a trademark, or in another label reference as to the origin of the wine, will have to ensure that the product is eligible to use the AVA name as an appellation of origin.
The establishment of the Tip of the Mitt AVA will not affect any existing AVA. The establishment of the Tip of the Mitt AVA will allow vintners to use “Tip of the Mitt” as an appellation of origin for wines made primarily from grapes grown within the Tip of the Mitt AVA if the wines meet the eligibility requirements for the appellation.
2. Subpart C is amended by adding § 9.257 to read as follows:
§ 9.257
Signed: June 29, 2016.
Approved: July 10, 2016.
[FR Doc. 2016-17274 Filed 7-20-16; 8:45 am]