Most wine professionals know that to label a wine with an American Viticultural Area (AVA), at least 85% of the wine must come from that region. But how does a grape-growing region earn AVA status? Recently, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved the San Luis Rey Read more…
The holidays were spent with family in Arizona, including a few days in Tucson. As my interest in the wine industry continues to grow, it was inevitable that I would be exploring Arizona’s grape and wine production. Also, contrary to popular belief, Arizona has been a significant center of wine Read more…
The low price of wine in Italy was one observation I made while spending the winter holidays on the peninsula. This was most apparent at the local grocery stores. The price for a decent bottle of wine ranged from just a few dollars to approximately twenty dollars at the higher Read more…
Last week the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) recognized America’s newly established viticultural area, the West Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA). It will be the 19th AVA in Sonoma County. What are AVAs again? What should the wine industry know about them? The TTB has defined Read more…