Red Mountain Viticultural Area (99R-367P)

AGENCY:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has received a petition proposing to establish a viticultural area within the State of Washington to be called “Red Mountain.” The proposed viticultural area is within Benton County and entirely within the existing Yakima Valley viticultural area as described in the regulations. Mr. Lorne Jacobson of Hedges Cellars submitted the petition. Mr. Jacobson believes that “Red Mountain” is a widely known name for the petitioned area, that the area is well defined, and that the area is distinguished from other areas by its soil and climate.

DATES:

Send your comments on or before July 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments to: Chief, Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 50221, Washington, DC 20091-0221 (Attn: Notice No. 897).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Berry, Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20226, (202) 927-8210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background on Viticultural Areas

What Is ATF's Authority To Establish a Viticultural Area?

ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-53 (43 FR 37672, 54624) on August 23, 1978. This decision revised the regulations in 27 CFR part 4, Labeling and Advertising of Wine, to allow the establishment of definitive viticultural areas. The regulations allow the name of an approved viticultural area to be used as an appellation of origin on wine labels and in wine advertisements. On October 2, 1979, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-60 (44 FR 56692) which added 27 CFR part 9, American Viticultural Areas, for the listing of approved American viticultural areas, the names of which may be used as appellations of origin.

What Is the Definition of an American Viticultural Area?

An American viticultural area is a delimited grape-growing region distinguishable by geographic features. Viticultural features such as soil, climate, elevation, topography, etc., distinguish it from surrounding areas.

What Is Required To Establish a Viticultural Area?

Any interested person may petition ATF to establish a grape-growing region as a viticultural area. The petition should include:

• Evidence that the name of the proposed viticultural area is locally and/or nationally known as referring to the area specified in the petition;
• Historical or current evidence that the boundaries of the viticultural area are as specified in the petition;
• Evidence relating to the geographical characteristics (climate, soil, elevation, physical features, etc.) which distinguish the viticultural features of the proposed area from surrounding areas;
• A description of the specific boundaries of the viticultural area, based on features which can be found on United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) maps of the largest applicable scale; and
• A copy (or copies) of the appropriate U.S.G.S. map(s) with the boundaries prominently marked.

2. Red Mountain Petition

ATF has received a petition proposing to establish a viticultural area within the State of Washington to be known as “Red Mountain.” The petitioner is Mr. Lorne Jacobson of Hedges Cellars. The proposed viticultural area is entirely within the existing Yakima Valley viticultural area described in 27 CFR 9.69. According to Mr. Jacobson, Red Mountain has a distinct identity that sets it apart from the rest of the Yakima Valley viticultural area. He reports that grapes grown on Red Mountain are known for their quality and are highly sought after by Washington State winemakers.

The proposed area encompasses approximately 3,400 acres, of which approximately 600 acres are planted to vineyards. The petitioner estimates the proposed area can accommodate 2,700 acres of grape plantings.

What Name Evidence Has Been Provided?

The petitioner has submitted as evidence of name recognition several newspaper and magazine articles referencing Red Mountain as a wine producing area. These publications include: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer; the Globe and Mail, (Toronto); Wine Access (Canada); Decanter (UK); and Wine (UK). Other sources cited by the petitioner as referring to the wines of Red Mountain include: Decanter Magazine Guide to Oregon, Washington State and Idaho (Third Edition, 1996); Touring the Washington Wine Country, published by the Washington Wine Commission (1997 edition); and Connoisseur's Guide to California (July 1997 edition).

Several of these references describe the geographic and climatic conditions of Red Mountain as particularly suited to grape growing. Examples include:

• Decanter Magazine Guide to Oregon, Washington State and Idaho (Third Edition, 1996): “The Red Mountain region, at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima rivers, is a relatively warm area, and vineyards on upper slopes, again with south facing aspects, are yielding superior wine. * * *. Evidence is mounting to indicate that Red Mountain may be one of the genuine special vineyard sites.”
• Wine Access, November 1998: “Although most of Eastern Washington's vineyards bask in a hot, dry climate, Klipsun [an area vineyard] sits between a gap in the Rattlesnake and Red Mountains in the lower Yakima Valley that is regularly blessed with slightly cooler air that filters through the gap from Canada. This, along with its stingy soils best described as sandy, silty loam, and silty loam over gravel, helps to explain the elegant, concentrated nature of the Klipsun fruit.”
• Touring the Washington Wine Country, by the Washington Wine Commission (1997 edition): “Many of the award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons that emerged from Washington's first quarter-century of fine winemaking used a percentage of their fruit from the vineyards sloping down from Red Mountain toward the Yakima River just above Benton City near Richland. This site offers good air drainage and light soils that encourage grape vines to seek nutrients via deep roots. Irrigated vineyards allow the grape growers to control vine vigor and to ease the vines into dormancy before winter.”

What Boundary Evidence Has Been Provided?

The petitioner has submitted as boundary evidence one U.S.G.S. map titled “Benton City, Washington” (1974) on which Red Mountain is prominently labeled. The proposed viticultural area starts on the ridgeline of Red Mountain and then sweeps down in a triangle toward the southwest, encompassing the southern slope of the mountain down to an elevation of 560 feet. The petitioner notes that there is a small vineyard site on the eastern bank of the Yakima River, due west of the proposed boundaries. He states that this valley floor site has different growing conditions than those on the higher elevations of Red Mountain. There are currently 13 vineyards on Red Mountain, all on the southwestern slope and within the proposed boundaries. The oldest of these vineyards was planted in 1975. According to the petitioner, these boundaries contain a grape growing area with a distinctive character based on soil, topography and climate.

What Evidence Relating to Geographical Features Has Been Provided?

The petitioner asserts that geographical and climatic features of Red Mountain distinguish it from the surrounding Yakima Valley viticultural area.

• Soil: The petitioner states that Red Mountain's soil associations (landscapes with distinctive proportional patterns of soils) are unique in the Yakima Valley viticultural area. In support of this statement, the petitioner has submitted soil survey maps issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service for the Yakima County and Benton County areas. Using these maps, the petitioner compared the soil associations for Red Mountain and other grape growing areas in the Yakima Valley viticultural area.

According to the Benton County area soil survey maps, the dominant soil association of Red Mountain is Warden-Shano. A more specific analysis reveals that the following soils are present within the Warden-Shano association: Warden silt loam, Hezel loamy fine sand, Scooteney silt loam, and Kiona very stony silt loam. The petitioner compared this data with soil data for Gleed, Buena, and Sunnyside, other grape growing areas in Washington State within the Yakima Valley viticultural area. The soil associations of these areas are composed of Weirman-Ashue, Harwood-Gorst-Selah, Ritzville-Starbuck, Cowiche-Roza, Warden Esquatzel, and Quincy-Hezel. Thus, argues the petitioner, Red Mountain has a soil association which sets it apart from the rest of the Yakima Valley viticultural area.

• Climate: According to the petitioner, temperatures on Red Mountain tend to be hotter during the growing season than those in other areas of the Yakima Valley viticultural area.

To support this contention, the petitioner submitted temperature data gathered from weather stations in the Washington Public Agriculture Weather System administered by Washington State University. He compared data from the weather stations of Benton City, Sunnyside, Buena, and Gleed, all located in the Yakima Valley viticultural area. The Benton City station is located on Red Mountain within the proposed viticultural area. A comparison of average annual air temperatures for the years 1995 through 1999 shows that the Benton City station consistently had the warmest temperatures. The average temperature difference between Benton City and Gleed, the coolest site, ranged from 3.92 to 5.61 degrees.

The petitioner states that the difference of only a few degrees over the course of a growing season can produce dramatic results on the enological characteristics of wine. He further states that Red Mountain is typically the first grape growing area in Washington State to harvest grapes because of its warmer temperatures. According to the petitioner, the warmer temperatures also help to produce fully mature, ripe grapes with exceptional balance that differ substantially in quality from those of other growing areas in the state.

• Topography: Existing vineyards in the proposed viticultural area lie on the southwest-facing slope of Red Mountain. Elevation ranges of these vineyards are from approximately 600 to 1,000 feet. The petitioner notes that there is an immense gap separating the northwest end of Red Mountain from the southeast extremity of nearby Rattlesnake Ridge. He states that cooler, continental air masses flow south from Canada through this gap. In addition, the Yakima River flows north around Red Mountain before joining the Columbia River, creating an air drainage system. The petitioner further states that these characteristics, along with the predominate southwest facing slope of Red Mountain, serve to flush the warm daytime air off the face of Red Mountain and replace it with a cooler air mass. According to the petitioner, the resulting growing environment yields grapes that are both high in sugar (due to warmer daytime temperatures) and high in acid (due to lower evening temperatures).

3. Public Participation

Who May Comment on This Notice?

ATF requests comments from all interested persons. In addition, ATF specifically requests comments on the clarity of this proposed rule and how it may be made easier to understand. Comments received on or before the closing date will be carefully considered. Comments received after that date will be given the same consideration if it is practical to do so. However, assurance of consideration can only be given to comments received on or before the closing date.

Can I Review Comments Received?

Copies of the petition, the proposed regulations, the appropriate map, and any written comments received will be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the ATF Reading Room, Office of Liaison and Public Information, Room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20226.

Will ATF Keep My Comments Confidential?

ATF cannot recognize any material in comments as confidential. All comments and materials may be disclosed to the public. If you consider your material to be confidential or inappropriate for disclosure to the public, you should not include it in the comments. We may also disclose the name of any person who submits a comment.

How Do I Send Facsimile Comments?

You may submit comments of not more than three pages by facsimile transmission to (202) 927-8525. Facsimile comments must:

• Be legible.
• Reference this notice number.
• Be 81/2″ x 11″ in size.
• Contain a legible written signature.
• Be not more than three pages.

We will not acknowledge receipt of facsimile transmissions. We will treat facsimile transmissions as originals.

How Do I Send Electronic Mail (E-mail) Comments?

You may submit comments by e-mail by sending the comments to nprm@atfhq.atf.treas.gov. You must follow these instructions. E-mail comments must:

• Contain your name, mailing address, and e-mail address.
• Reference this notice number.
• Be legible when printed on not more than three pages 81/2″ x 11″ in size.

We will not acknowledge receipt of e-mail. We will treat e-mail as originals.

How Do I Send Comments to the ATF Internet Web Site?

You may also submit comments using the comment form provided with the online copy of the proposed rule on the ATF Internet web site at http://www.atf.treas.gov/core/regulations/rules.htm.

Can I Request a Public Hearing?

If you desire the opportunity to comment orally at a public hearing on this proposed regulation, you must submit your request in writing to the Director within the 60-day comment period. The Director reserves the right to determine, in light of all circumstances, whether a public hearing will be held.

4. Regulatory Analyses and Notices

Does the Paperwork Reduction Act Apply to This Proposed Rule?

The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, do not apply to this notice because no requirement to collect information is proposed.

How Does the Regulatory Flexibility Act Apply to This Proposed Rule?

These proposed regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The establishment of a viticultural area is neither an endorsement or approval by ATF of the quality of wine produced in the area, but rather an identification of an area that is distinct from surrounding areas. ATF believes that the establishment of viticultural areas merely allows wineries to more accurately describe the origin of their wines to consumers, and helps consumers identify the wines they purchase. Thus, any benefit derived from the use of a viticultural area name is the result of the proprietor's own efforts and consumer acceptance of wines from that area.

No new requirements are proposed. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.

Is This a Significant Regulatory Action as Defined by Executive Order 12866?

It has been determined that this proposed regulation is not a significant regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required.

Drafting Information: The principal author of this document is Jennifer Berry, Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

• Administrative practices and procedures
• Consumer protection
• Viticultural areas
• Wine

Authority and Issuance

Accordingly, for the reasons set out in the preamble, Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, part 9, American Viticultural Areas, is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 9—AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205

Subpart C—Approved American Viticultural Areas

Par. 2. Subpart C is amended by adding § 9.167 to read as follows: