For those interested in the status of Washington State wine legislation, the Washington Wine Institute provided this useful legislative update to various wine-related bills moving through the House and Senate.
TTB Adopts New, Softer Rules for AVAs
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has, in a final rule/treasury decision (available here), issued new and revised regulations with respect to three formerly confusing areas pertaining to American Viticultural Areas (AVAs): brand names that conflict with AVA designations, the AVA application process, and the existence of smaller AVAs inside currently
Conjunctive Labeling Comes to Sonoma County
With the turn of the calendar and after nearly a year of political wrangling, conjunctive labeling will be the norm for Sonoma County wineries beginning in 2014. Passed by unanimous vote in both the state assembly and senate in August and signed by Governor Schwartzenegger at the end of September, AB 1798 will require
New California Law Streamlines Instructional Tasting Licenses
On the list of California laws affecting the wine industry in the New Year is AB 605 – the Instructional Tasting Events License. Introduced in 2009 and signed into law September 23, 2010, AB 605 adds to the Business and Professions Code sections 23396.6 and 25503.56. The additions allow the ABC to issue a
TTB Updates and Changes
In anticipation of the retirement on 12/30/2010 of Ms. Nancy Sutton, TTB’s current American Viticultural Area (AVA) Program Manager, TTB is announcing that effective December 27, 2010, Ms. Elisabeth Kann of the Regulations and Rulings Division has been designated the coordinator of the AVA Program. Ms. Kann may be contacted directly on all AVA questions
Exploring the Option of Liquor Licenses for Food Cart Owners
Portland-area food cart owners are innovative, creative, and continue to contribute to Portland’s food and beverage culture. The range of food options varies greatly, but it is easy to find what you are looking for, or get updated on the recent cart happenings, with the likes of Food Carts Portland. Portland’s food cart culture has
Oregon Temporarily Bans “Alcopop”
Following actions by the FDA, the TTB, as well as several states, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) recently announced a temporary ban on the sale of caffeinated alcoholic beverages within the state’s borders. The action, taken during a November 20th special meeting on the issue, will last until May 18, 2011, during which time
FDA Issues Warning Letters to Manufacturers of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages
In an update to an earlier blog post, the FDA issued warning letters today to four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages. The FDA stated in the letters that caffeine added to malt alcoholic beverages was an “unsafe food additive ” and thus, such products are in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
FDA May Issue Warning on Alcoholic Energy Drinks; States Move to Ban “Blackout in a Can”
Amidst rising incidences of hospitalizations in college and teenage drinkers linked to consumption of alcoholic energy drinks, the Washington State Liquor Control Board banned their sale effective tomorrow, November 18, 2010. The move came on the heels of a request by Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, whose office stated in a November 10 press release that they were “…particularly
Bernie Kipp at Great American Distiller’s Festival
Craft distillers from coast to coast attended the 6th Annual Great American Distiller’s Festival (GADF) on October 23 and 24, 2010 at the Tiffany Center in NW Portland. 38 separate distilleries poured more than 70 gins, vodkas, whiskey’s and rums in a celebration of all things “spirited.”
Special events included seminars for distillers and tours of Portland distilleries. 
Seminar presenters