For Immediate Release May 18th, 2015 Washington, D.C. – Today the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body issued their final ruling against the United States country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for muscle cuts of meat. What does that mean for the wine industry? If the United States does not repeal its COOL rule, Canada … Read more
Crabapples, Pineapples and Other Adventures Wine, few other libations can elicit as much praise as it does debate. More than any other drink that humanity has had the fortune of enjoying, wine is rife with rules and norms regulating how it is produced, served, and consumed. However, some of us aren’t very knowledgeable on grape … Read more
April 16 – Washington D.C. We have wrapped up the 2015 National Wine & Grape Policy Conference here in Washington D.C. It has been an active two days! The cherry blossoms were in bloom as members of WineAmerica and Winegrape Growers of America gathered for two days of policy discussions. The board of directors meeting … Read more
Washington D.C., March 23rd This morning the beverage alcohol industry sent a joint industry letter to the House and Senate requesting a funding increase for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for FY2016. The letter was signed by twelve leading associations representing wine, beer, and spirits producers and wholesalers. Last month, the … Read more
Loosening AVA Regulations: Who benefits if wines can be ‘finished’ in adjacent states? Washington, D.C.—An unusual proposal from the Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) would allow wines to be labeled with the grapes’ AVA of origin, if “fully finished” in an adjacent state. TTB notice 147 was, the bureau stated, “in response to comments TTB received … Read more
