Sta. Rita Hills AVA Expansion

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On Monday, August 22, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published a final rule expanding the Sta. Rita Hills viticultural area.[1] This long-awaited decision, which will take effect September 21, 2016, will add approximately 2,296 acres to the 33,380-acre region located in Santa Barbara County, California. The 2,296-acre expansion area contains three vineyards, two of which were already partially within the original boundaries of the Sta. Rita Hills viticultural area. Beginning September 21, wines produced by these vineyards will be authorized to bear the Sta. Rita Hills name on their labels.

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Turf Wars: Proposed Expansion of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA

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In “The Law of Location: Reign of Terroir,” we explored the regulatory side of terroir. Now, a long-simmering battle in California wine country has started to boil, and terroir is at the heart of the dispute. This winter, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) will decide whether to expand the famed Sta. Rita Hills AVA, a 33,380-acre[1] appellation situated in picturesque Santa Barbara County, by about 2,300 acres. [Notice No. 145: Proposed Expansion of the Sta. Rita Hills Viticultural Area. The agency is accepting public comments on the proposed expansion through Friday, December 5, 2014.[2] This is a good opportunity to explore the Sta. Rita Hills AVA and the process of establishing and modifying an AVA. The petition, filed by geographer Patrick L. Shabram on behalf of John Sebastiano Vineyards and Pence Ranch Vineyards, is available here.

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The Law of Location: Reign of Terroir

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The geographic origin of a wine has long been believed to impact its taste (“palate”) and aroma (“nose”). Factors such as climate, soil, and nearby vegetation leave their imprint on a grape to create a unique flavor profile. These factors in turn account for some of the noticeable differences in palate and nose among wines made from the same grape variety. For this reason, many consumers rely on designations of origin, or appellations, in choosing their wines. This is the essence of “terroir”—the idea that the holistic geophysical and ecological profile of a region influences the taste and other characteristics of the fruit grown there. Terroir is a source of pride, economic value, and contention among wine producers and consumers.

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