USA ~ General Questions

Question 1

What are the requirements in the USA

to put a vintage on the label?

Answer 1

• *95%** minimum for the stated vintage
• if the wine is from an AVA (not State or County)
• *85%** minimum for the stated vintage
• if the wine is from a County or State

NOTE:
If an American or imported wine in the US uses a vintage date, the wine must carry an appellation smaller than a country

Question 2

What are the requirements in the USA

to put a region on th label?

Answer 2

• *75%** minimum for a County, State, or Country
• 95% minimum for Washington State
• 100% minimum for California** or **Oregon (states)
• *85%** minimum for an AVA
• 95% minimum for any AVA inside Oregon

95% minimum for a Single Vineyard

NOTE:
If an American or imported wine in the US uses a vintage date, the wine must carry an appellation smaller than a country

Question 3

What are the requirements in the USA

to use Estate Bottled on a label?

Answer 3

A producer must own (or control) 100% of the land any grapes used in “Estate Bottled” wine.

All vineyards used in “Estate Bottled” wines must be located in the same AVA as the Winery itself.

-This second rule was the impetus for Gallo applying for the enormous Northern Sonoma AVA which was approved in 1985.

Question 4

What are the requirements in the USA for

putting a Varietal on the label?

Answer 4

75% minimum of a stated Varietal

• *90%** minimum in Oregon
• still 75% if it’s:
• -White or Red Bordeaux varieties (including Carmenère)
• -Major Rhône grapes (red & white)
• -Durif (Petite Sirah)
• -Zinfandel
• -Sangiovese
• -Tannat
• -Tempranillo

Question 5

What is the minimum for AVA in Oregon?

Answer 5

95%

==========

75% minimum for a County, State, or Country

• 95% minimum for Washington State
• 100% minimum for California or Oregon (states)

85% minimum for an AVA

95% minimum for a Single Vineyard

NOTE:
If an American or imported wine in the US uses a vintage date, the wine must carry an appellation smaller than a country

Question 6

What is the minimum in the USA

for Single Vineyard?

Answer 6

95%

==========

75% minimum for a County, State, or Country

• 95% minimum for Washington State
• 100% minimum for California or Oregon

85% minimum for an AVA
-95% minimum for any AVA inside Oregon

NOTE:
If an American or imported wine in the US uses a vintage date, the wine must carry an appellation smaller than a country

Question 7

What is VINEA?

Answer 7

New regional sustainability organization.

VINEA is a voluntary group of Walla Walla Valley winegrowers who promote a holistic, socially- and environmentally-responsible methodology.

VINEA winegrowers may not be exclusively organic, but they do farm in accordance with the standards set forth by LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology, a third-party certifying system) and the vineyards are certified as Salmon-Safe.