AVA Laws

Question 1

What is the minimum percentage required for a wine to be appellated by state, country or county AVA?

Answer 1

75%

WA state - 95%

Cali and Oregon - 100%

Question 2

What is the percentage of grapes required to list an AVA?

Answer 2

85% (EU standards)

Question 3

What is the percentage of grapes required for an American bottle to be listed with a single vineyard?

Answer 3

95%

Question 4

What are the percentage of grapes required for an American bottle to have a listed vintage?

Answer 4

AVA - 95% must come from stated vintage

Labeled with state or county - 85% must come from stated vintage

*Wine must carry an appellation smaller than country to list a vintage.

Question 5

What is the minimum requirement for a varietal wine designation?

Answer 5

75%

51% for Concord grapes

Question 6

What are the requirements for a bottle listed as “estate bottled?”

Answer 6

100% of the wine must come from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery.

The winery and all vineyards used in production of the wine must be located in the same AVA.

Question 7

What is the tolerance for an alcohol by volume statement?

Answer 7

1.5% either way for all wines of 14% abv or less

1% either way for all wines of above 14% abv

3% range is also allowed for wines of 14% or less (11-14%)

2% range for all wines above 14% abv

Wines of 14% abv or less may omit a percentage and instead use the phrase “Table Wine” or “Light Wine”

Question 8

What is the largest AVA?

Answer 8

Upper Mississippi Valley AVA (2009)

Spans 30,000 square miles in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois.

World’s largest demarcated appellation.