What is wine law? What is wine law? This is a common question I receive whenever I tell people I focus on wine law. The answer, more or less, amounts to this: wine law in the U.S. entails many areas of the law and several different government agencies. Wine law is not one set of […]
Owning and operating a winery in the U.S. is both rewarding and fulfilling. Not only is owning a winery an opportunity to produce quality wines and to promote local industry, but it can also be a profitable business venture. This article will discuss some of the benefits of owning and operating a winery in the
What Are the Benefits of Owning and Operating a Winery in the United States? Read More »
What is the TTB? The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, also known as the TTB, is a federal agency tasked with regulating and enforcing laws related to alcohol and tobacco in the United States. The TTB operates as a division of the Department of the Treasury and has the primary responsibility of administering
What is the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”)? Read More »
If you are planning to start a winery, brewery, or distillery in the United States, you will need to apply for and obtain a federal basic permit or brewer’s notice from the TTB. Applying for a permit can be a complicated and tie consuming process, especially for folks who are not familiar with the permit application process. However, it is a necessary step to legally produce and bottle wine, beer, or distilled spirits in the United States. This article will outline some of the items that are generally needed to apply for an original TTB basic permit or brewer’s notice.
TTB Federal Basic Permit Checklist: The Items Needed to Apply for a Permit Read More »
What is a TTB COLA? The acronym COLA stands for Certificate of Label Approval. A COLA is a document issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB“) that authorizes the use of a specific label on the container of an alcohol beverage product. Generally speaking, a COLA is required for all alcohol
Labeling of wines under 7% alcohol by volume can cause significant challenges for wineries, importers, and brand owners because the regulations governing these products are often unfamiliar territory. Traditional table wines and other vinous beverages with an alcohol content falling below 7% are subject to the labeling jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The FDA’s labeling regulations are found at 21 CFR Part 101.
Everything You Need to Know About Wine Under 7% Alcohol By Volume and the FDA Read More »
Alcohol-free wine is increasingly becoming a go-to option for many consumers. With some folks embracing an alcohol-free life or even a “Dry January,” alcohol-free wine remains a great choice for many. It is no surprise that alcohol beverage companies are seeking to enter or expand their presence in this unique sector of the beverage alcohol industry.
TTB published a final rule on August 24th (with the same effective date) that updates federal regulations found at 27 CFR Part 24 for domestic winemaking. Generally speaking, the changes impact wines produced in the U.S. with respect to materials and processes authorized for the treatment of wine and of the juice from which wine is made.
TTB Amends Federal Winemaking Regulations re: Wine Treating Materials & Processes Read More »
TTB also published a notice of proposed rulemaking with respect to labels of wine containing distilled spirits. Currently, most wine labels of fortified wine products are prohibited from mentioning that the wine contains distilled spirits.
In a recent notice of proposed rulemaking published by TTB in the Federal Register, the agency proposes to change the standards of fill for wines and (potentially) for distilled spirits. The proposed rule calls for ten (10) additional authorized standards of fill for wine (e.g., 180 mL, 300 mL, 330 mL, 360 mL, 550 mL, 620 mL, 700 mL, 720 mL, 1.8 L, and 2.25 L). Alternatively, the agency is also considering eliminating all but a minimum standard of fill for wine containers and all but a minimum and maximum standard of fill for distilled spirits containers. The notice can be accessed here.
Changes for Standards of Fill for Wines & Spirits Read More »