The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing to amend its regulations to permit the use of American viticultural area (AVA) names as appellations of origin (AO) on labels for wines that would otherwise qualify for the use of the AVA name, except that the wines have been fully finished in a State adjacent to the State in which the viticultural area is located, rather than the State in which the labeled viticultural area is located.
The proposal would provide greater flexibility in wine production and labeling while still ensuring that consumers are provided with adequate information as to the identity of the wines they purchase.
TTB permits the use of viticultural area names as appellations of origin on wine labels, so that vintners may better describe the origin of their wines and consumers may better identify the wines they may purchase.
Mainly based on hybrids such as Solaris, Hibernal or Maréchal Foch, viticulture is growing in the region of Zielona Góra, as well as in the west of the country, in Wroc?aw in the south-west, in Krakow in the south, in the region of Podkarpacie and in Kazimierz Dolny in the south-east. In addition, consumption has also increased over the past few years, going from 1.4 litres to 2.4 per capita.
After recalling the objectives and missions of the OIV, Mr Jean-Marie Aurand stressed the benefits of joining the large OIV family for Poland, both as a producing country with specific climate conditions and as a consuming country increasingly interested in wine culture.
The Polish Ambassador indicated that he would engage in the necessary discussions with the Polish Minister for Agriculture so that the possibility of OIV membership can be considered as soon as possible.