(SLO Coast) Viticultural Area

Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 191 / Thursday, October 1, 2020 / Proposed Rules 61899 (3) Proceed along the Charles City DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Background on Viticultural Areas County boundary, crossing onto the TTB Authority Petersburg, Virginia, map and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade continuing along the Charles City Bureau Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol County boundary to the point where it Administration Act (FAA Act), 27 intersects the Henrico County boundary 27 CFR Part 9 U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary at Turkey Island Creek; then of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, (4) Proceed north-northeasterly along [Docket No. TTB–2020–0009; Notice No. 194] and malt beverages. The FAA Act the concurrent Henrico County–Charles provides that these regulations should, City County boundary to its intersection among other things, prohibit consumer RIN 1513–AC59 with the Chickahominy River, which is deception and the use of misleading concurrent with the New Kent County Proposed Establishment of the San statements on labels, and ensure that boundary; then Luis Obispo Coast (SLO Coast) labels provide the consumer with (5) Proceed northwesterly along the Viticultural Area adequate information as to the identity Chickahominy River–New Kent County and quality of the product. The Alcohol boundary, crossing onto the Richmond, AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau Virginia, map to its intersection with the Trade Bureau, Treasury. (TTB) administers the FAA Act Hanover County boundary; then pursuant to section 1111(d) of the ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. Homeland Security Act of 2002, (6) Proceed northeasterly along the codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). The Hanover County–New Kent County SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Secretary has delegated the functions boundary to its intersection with the and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to and duties in the administration and establish the 408,585-acre ‘‘San Luis King William County boundary at the enforcement of these provisions to the Obispo Coast’’ viticultural area in San Pamunkey River; then TTB Administrator through Treasury Luis Obispo County, California. TTB is (7) Proceed southeasterly along the Order 120–01, dated December 10, 2013 proposing to recognize both ‘‘San Luis King William County–New Kent County (superseding Treasury Order 120–01, Obispo Coast’’ and the abbreviated boundary, crossing onto the dated January 24, 2003). Tappahannock, Virginia–Maryland map, ‘‘SLO Coast’’ as the name of the Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR to the intersection of the concurrent proposed AVA. The proposed AVA is part 4) authorizes TTB to establish county boundary with the York River; located entirely within the existing definitive viticultural areas and regulate then Central Coast AVA and would the use of their names as appellations of encompass the established Edna Valley origin on wine labels and in wine (8) Proceed southeasterly along the and Arroyo Grande Valley AVAs. TTB York River, crossing onto the advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB designates viticultural areas to allow regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets forth Williamsburg, Virginia map, to the vintners to better describe the origin of intersection of the river with the standards for the preparation and their wines and to allow consumers to submission of petitions for the Chesapeake Bay north of Tue Point; better identify wines they may then establishment or modification of purchase. TTB invites comments on this American viticultural areas (AVAs) and (9) Proceed southeast in a straight line proposed addition to its regulations. lists the approved AVAs. to the shoreline of Marsh Point; then DATES: TTB must receive your Definition (10) Proceed southeasterly, then comments on or before November 30, southwesterly along the shoreline to the 2020. Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel; then regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) defines ADDRESSES: You may electronically a viticultural area for American wine as (11) Proceed southwest in a straight submit comments to TTB on this a delimited grape-growing region having line, crossing onto the Norfolk, proposal, and view copies of this distinguishing features, as described in Virginia–North Carolina map, to the document, its supporting materials, and part 9 of the regulations, and a name northeastern terminus of the Hampton any comments TTB receives on it within and a delineated boundary, as City boundary; then Docket No. TTB–2020–0009 as posted established in part 9 of the regulations. (12) Proceed southwesterly along the on Regulations.gov (https:// These designations allow vintners and Hampton City boundary to the point www.regulations.gov), the Federal e- consumers to attribute a given quality, where it intersects with the Newport rulemaking portal. Please see the reputation, or other characteristic of a News City boundary; then ‘‘Public Participation’’ section of this wine made from grapes grown in an area document below for full details on how (13) Proceed southwesterly, then to the wine’s geographic origin. The to comment on this proposal via northwesterly along the Newport News establishment of AVAs allows vintners Regulations.gov or U.S. mail, and for City boundary, returning to the to describe more accurately the origin of full details on how to obtain copies of beginning point. their wines to consumers and helps this document, its supporting materials, consumers to identify wines they may Signed: July 22, 2020. and any comments related to this purchase. Establishment of an AVA is Mary G. Ryan, proposal. neither an approval nor an endorsement Acting Administrator. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: by TTB of the wine produced in that Approved: August 3, 2020. Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and area. Timothy E. Skud, Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Requirements Deputy Assistant Secretary, (Tax, Trade, and Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB Tariff Policy). NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2)) outlines [FR Doc. 2020–17628 Filed 9–30–20; 8:45 am] phone 202–453–1039, ext. 175. the procedure for proposing an AVA BILLING CODE 4810–31–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: and provides that any interested party VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:45 Sep 30, 2020 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\01OCP1.SGM 01OCP1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS 61900 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 191 / Thursday, October 1, 2020 / Proposed Rules may petition TTB to establish a grape- distributed throughout the remaining below 1,800 feet, which is described in growing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 portion of the proposed AVA. The the petition as the approximate limit of of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 9.12) distinguishing features of the proposed strong marine influence. prescribes standards for petitions for the SLO Coast AVA are its topography, The northern boundary of the establishment or modification of AVAs. climate, and soils. Unless otherwise proposed AVA follows the northern Petitions to establish an AVA must noted, all information and data Piedras Blancas Grant boundary and include the following: contained in the following sections are separates the proposed AVA from the • Evidence that the area within the from the petition to establish the Los Padres National Forest. Beyond the proposed AVA boundary is nationally proposed AVA and its supporting northern boundary, the elevations rise or locally known by the AVA name exhibits. sharply and become more rugged. The specified in the petition; eastern boundary follows a series of • An explanation of the basis for Proposed SLO Coast AVA straight lines between peaks of the Santa defining the boundary of the proposed Name Evidence Lucia Range, as well as the boundary of AVA; The proposed SLO Coast AVA derives the Los Padres National Forest, to • A narrative description of the its name from its location in coastal San separate the proposed AVA from regions features of the proposed AVA that affect Luis Obispo County. The petition notes that are oriented away from the Pacific viticulture, such as climate, geology, that the region is often referred to as Ocean and receive little direct marine soils, physical features, and elevation, ‘‘SLO,’’ which is a reference to both the influence. The southern boundary that make the proposed AVA distinctive county’s initials and its relaxed culture. generally follows the Nipomo Mesa and and distinguish it from adjacent areas The petition states that although the full the boundary of the Oceano State outside the proposed AVA; name of the proposed AVA is ‘‘San Luis Vehicular Recreation Area. The region • If the proposed AVA is to be Obispo Coast,’’ the frequently-used south of this boundary is sandier than established within, or overlapping, an abbreviation ‘‘SLO’’ should also be the proposed AVA and also contains existing AVA, an explanation that both recognized by TTB in order to avoid State recreational area lands that are not identifies the attributes of the proposed consumer confusion. appropriate for vineyard development. AVA that are consistent with the The petition included a number of The western boundary of the proposed existing AVA and explains how the examples of the use of the name ‘‘SLO AVA follows the coastline of the Pacific proposed AVA is sufficiently distinct Coast’’ to describe the region of the Ocean. from the existing AVA and therefore proposed AVA. For example, a book Distinguishing Features appropriate for separate recognition; about Santa Barbara County and • The appropriate United States According to the petition, the California’s Central Coast contains a Geological Survey (USGS) map(s) distinguishing features of the proposed chapter titled ‘‘Coastal SLO’’ that uses showing the location of the proposed SLO Coast AVA are its topography, the phrase ‘‘SLO Coast’’ nearly a dozen AVA, with the boundary of the climate, and soils.

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