Establishment of the San Luis Rey Viticultural Area (2024)

Background on Viticultural Areas

TTB Authority

Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), 27 U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages. The FAA Act provides that these regulations should, among other things, prohibit consumer deception and the use of misleading statements on labels and ensure that labels provide the consumer with adequate information as to the identity and quality of the product. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the FAA Act pursuant to section 1111(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, codified at 6 U.S.C. 531(d). In addition, the Secretary has delegated the functions and duties in the administration and enforcement of these provisions to the TTB Administrator through Treasury Order 120-01.

Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 4) authorizes TTB to establish definitive viticultural areas and regulate the use of their names as appellations of origin on wine labels and in wine advertisem*nts. Part 9 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 9) sets forth standards for the preparation and submission to TTB of petitions for the establishment or modification of American viticultural areas (AVAs) and lists the approved AVAs.

Definition

Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) defines a viticultural area for American wine as a delimited grape-growing region having distinguishing features as described in part 9 of the regulations and, once approved, a name and a delineated boundary codified in part 9 of the regulations. These designations allow vintners and consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of a wine made from grapes grown in an area to the wine's geographic origin. The establishment of AVAs allows vintners to describe more accurately the origin of their wines to consumers and helps consumers to identify wines they may purchase. Establishment of an AVA is neither an approval nor an endorsem*nt by TTB of the wine produced in that area.

Requirements

Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(2)) outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA and allows any interested party to petition TTB to establish a grape-growing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 9.12) prescribes standards for petitions to establish or modify AVAs. Petitions to establish an AVA must include the following:

• Evidence that the area within the proposed AVA boundary is nationally or locally known by the AVA name specified in the petition;
• An explanation of the basis for defining the boundary of the proposed AVA;
• A narrative description of the features of the proposed AVA affecting viticulture, such as climate, geology, soils, physical features, and elevation, that make the proposed AVA distinctive and distinguish it from adjacent areas outside the proposed AVA boundary;
• The appropriate United States Geological Survey (USGS) map(s) showing the location of the proposed AVA, with the boundary of the proposed AVA clearly drawn thereon;
• If the proposed AVA is to be established within, or overlapping, an existing AVA, an explanation that both identities the attributes of the proposed AVA that are consistent with the existing AVA and explains how the proposed AVA is sufficiently distinct from the existing AVA and therefore appropriate for separate recognition; and
• A detailed narrative description of the proposed AVA boundary based on USGS map markings.

San Luis Rey Petition

TTB received a petition from Rebecca Wood, managing member of Premium Vintners, LLC on behalf of Fallbrook Winery and other local vineyard owners and winemakers proposing the establishment of the “San Luis Rey” AVA in San Diego County, California. Premium Vintners, LLC, operates Fallbrook Winery and farms several vineyards within the proposed AVA. The proposed San Luis Rey AVA is located entirely within the established South Coast AVA (27 CFR 9.104) and covers approximately 97,733 acres. There are 44 commercially-producing vineyards covering a total of approximately 256 acres, along with 29 acres of planned vineyards. There are also 23 wineries within the proposed AVA.

According to the petition, the distinguishing features of the proposed San Luis Rey AVA are its topography, climate, and soils. The proposed AVA has low elevations that allow cool marine air from the Pacific Ocean to flow through the region, moderating temperatures. The mean elevation within the proposed AVA is 563 feet, and the average slope angle is 10 degrees. The low elevations and a terrain of gently rolling hills that are open to marine air almost eliminate the spring frosts that can affect vine growth at the beginning of the growing season. The petition also notes that afternoon breezes help to prevent fungal diseases resulting from the morning's low cloud cover.

In the region north of the proposed San Luis Rey AVA, elevations are higher and slope angles are similar to those in the proposed AVA. In the region to the south, average elevations are lower and ( print page 70488) slope angles are shallower than within the proposed AVA. Also, in the area to the southeast, elevations are higher with steeper slope angles than the proposed AVA. The petition did not provide elevation ranges for the area east of the proposed AVA but did include a graphic indicating higher elevations to the east of the proposed AVA. The Pacific Ocean is west of the proposed AVA, so the petition did not provide distinguishing feature information for this area.

The petition provided climate data, specifically the average annual mean temperature, average annual maximum temperature, average peak ripening and harvest season maximum temperature, and growing degree day ^[1] (GDD) accumulations for the proposed AVA and surrounding regions. According to the petition, the proposed AVA generally has mild winters and summers with lower maximum temperatures than regions farther inland due to the proposed AVA's proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The petition notes that the proposed AVA has lower average annual mean and maximum temperatures and fewer GDDs than the regions to the north and south. The proposed AVA has a greater number of mean GDDs but lower minimum GDDs and a lower average annual maximum temperature than the area to the southeast. Additionally, the proposed San Luis Rey AVA has lower annual precipitation amounts than the regions to the north and southeast and slightly higher amounts than the region to the south.

The petition notes that nearly 50 percent of the soils in the proposed San Luis Rey AVA are Alfisols soils with high concentrations of essential plant nutrients. Approximately 69 percent of the soils in the proposed AVA are sandy loams that can hold water while draining and aerating well and prevent overly vigorous growth. Soils to the north are 48 percent Alfisols and also contain more Entisols and Mollisols soils than the proposed AVA. To the south, soils are primarily Alfisols but in lower amounts than the proposed AVA. This area also has more Entisols and Mollisols soils than the proposed AVA. To the southeast, soils are 46 percent Alfisols, but contain more Entisols than are found in the proposed AVA.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Comments Received

TTB published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (Notice No. 225) in the Federal Register on August 30, 2023 (88 FR 59820), proposing to establish the San Luis Rey AVA. In the NPRM, TTB summarized the evidence from the petition regarding the name, boundary, and distinguishing features for the proposed AVA. The NPRM also compared the distinguishing features of the proposed AVA to the surrounding areas. For a detailed description of the evidence relating to the name, boundary, and distinguishing features of the proposed AVA, and for a detailed comparison of the distinguishing features of the proposed AVA to the surrounding areas, see the NPRM.

In the NRPM, TTB solicited comments on the accuracy of the name, boundary, and other required information submitted in support of the petition. In addition, given the proposed San Luis Rey AVA's location within the South Coast AVA, TTB solicited comments on whether the evidence submitted in the petition regarding the distinguishing features of the proposed AVA sufficiently differentiates it from the South Coast AVA. Finally, TTB requested comments on whether the geographic features of the proposed AVA are so distinguishable from the South Coast AVA that the proposed San Luis Rey AVA should no longer be part of the established AVA. The comment period closed October 30, 2023.

In response to the NPRM, TTB received one comment. The commenter is a wine reviewer who supported the establishment of the proposed San Luis Rey AVA, stating that its proposed boundaries encompass a subregion with soils compositions, temperature patterns, and acidity profiles that set the proposed AVA apart from neighboring AVAs. The commenter also stated that significant coastal influence on acidity profiles, in particular, invites the planting of grape varieties not otherwise found in the South Coast AVA.

TTB did not receive any comments in response to its question of whether the proposed San Luis Rey AVA is so distinguishable from the established South Coast AVA that the proposed AVA should not be part of the established AVA.

TTB Determination

After careful review of the petition and the comment received in response to the NPRM, TTB finds that the evidence provided by the petitioner supports the establishment of the San Luis Rey AVA. Accordingly, under the authority of the FAA Act, section 1111(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and parts 4 and 9 of the TTB regulations, TTB establishes the “San Luis Rey” AVA in San Diego County, California, effective 30 days from the publication date of this document.

TTB has also determined that the San Luis Rey AVA will remain part of the established South Coast AVA. As discussed in the NPRM, the proposed AVA shares the marine-influenced climate of the larger South Coast AVA. However, in general, the proposed San Luis Rey AVA has a lower mean elevation and more consistent terrain than the South Coast AVA. Additionally, the three most common soil series in the proposed AVA make up 34.9 percent of the total soils in the proposed AVA, but only comprise 20.3 percent of the total South Coast AVA soils.

Boundary Description

See the narrative description of the boundary of the San Luis Rey AVA in the regulatory text published at the end of this final rule.

Maps

The petitioner provided the required maps, and they are listed below in the regulatory text. The San Luis Rey AVA boundary may also be viewed on the AVA Map Explorer on the TTB website, at https://www.ttb.gov/​wine/​ava-map-explorer.

Impact on Current Wine Labels

Part 4 of the TTB regulations prohibits any label reference on a wine that indicates or implies an origin other than the wine's true place of origin. For a wine to be labeled with an AVA name or with a brand name that includes an AVA name, at least 85 percent of the wine must be derived from grapes grown within the area represented by that name, and the wine must meet the other conditions listed in 27 CFR 4.25(e)(3). If the wine is not eligible for labeling with an AVA name and that name appears in the brand name, then the label is not in compliance and the bottler must change the brand name and obtain approval of a new label. Similarly, if the AVA name appears in another reference on the label in a misleading manner, the bottler would have to obtain approval of a new label. Different rules apply if a wine has a brand name containing an AVA name that was used as a brand name on a label approved before July 7, 1986. See 27 CFR 4.39(i)(2) for details.

With the establishment of the San Luis Rey AVA, its name, “San Luis Rey,” will be recognized as a name of ( print page 70489) viticultural significance under § 4.39(i)(3) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.39(i)(3)). The text of the regulation clarifies this point. Consequently, wine bottlers using the name “San Luis Rey” in a brand name, including a trademark, or in another label reference as to the origin of the wine, will have to ensure that the product is eligible to use the AVA name as an appellation of origin.

The establishment of the San Luis Rey AVA will not affect any existing AVA, and any bottlers using “South Coast AVA” as an appellation of origin or in a brand name for wines made from grapes grown within the South Coast AVA will not be affected by the establishment of this new AVA. The establishment of the San Luis Rey AVA will allow vintners to use “San Luis Rey” and “South Coast AVA” as appellations of origin for wines made primarily from grapes grown within the San Luis Rey AVA if the wines meet the eligibility requirements for these appellations.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

TTB certifies that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The regulation imposes no new reporting, recordkeeping, or other administrative requirement. Any benefit derived from the use of an AVA name would be the result of a proprietor's efforts and consumer acceptance of wines from that area. Therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required.

Executive Order 12866

It has been determined that this final rule is not a significant regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993, as amended. Therefore, no regulatory assessment is required.

Drafting Information

Vonzella C. Johnson of the Regulations and Rulings Division drafted this final rule.

The Regulatory Amendment

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, TTB amends title 27, chapter I, part 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

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

Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205.

2. Subpart C is amended by adding § 9.295 to read as follows: