[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39984-39986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19610]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 9

[Notice No. 854]
RIN: 1512-AA07


Proposals To Establish a Yorkville Highlands Viticultural Area 
and Realign the Southern Boundary of the Mendocino Viticultural Area 
(95F-020P)

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Department of 
the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is 
considering the establishment of a viticultural area located in 
Mendocino County, California, to be known as ``Yorkville Highlands,'' 
and the extension of the southern boundary of the Mendocino 
Viticultural Area to coincide with the boundary of the proposed area. 
These proposals are the result of a petition filed by Mr. William J.A. 
Weir for the Yorkville Highlands Appellation Committee and a related 
petition filed by Ms. Bernadette A. Byrne, Executive Director of the 
Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance.
    ATF believes that the establishment of viticultural areas and the 
subsequent use of viticultural area names as appellations of origin in 
wine labeling and advertising allow wineries to designate the specific 
areas where the grapes used to make the wine were grown and enable 
consumers to better identify the wines they purchase.

DATES: Written comments must be received by September 23, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Wine, Beer and Spirits 
Regulations Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 
50221, Washington, DC 20091-0221, Attn: Notice No. 854. Copies of 
written comments received in response to this notice of proposed 
rulemaking will be available for public inspection during normal 
business hours at: ATF Reference Library, Office of Public Affairs and 
Disclosure, Room 6300, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie D. Ruhf, Wine, Beer and 
Spirits Regulations Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 
650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226 (202-927-8230).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 23, 1978, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-53 (43 FR 
37672, 54624) revising regulations in 27 CFR part 4. These regulations 
allow the establishment of definite American viticultural areas. The 
regulations also allow the name of an approved viticultural area to be 
used as an appellation of origin in the labeling and advertising of 
wine.
    On October 2, 1979, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-60 (44 FR 
56692) which added a new part 9 to 27 CFR, providing for the listing of 
approved American viticultural areas. Section 4.25a(e)(1), Title 27, 
CFR, defines an American viticultural area as a delimited grape-growing 
region distinguishable by geographical features, the boundaries of 
which have been delineated in subpart C of part 9. Section 4.25a(e)(2) 
outlines the procedure for proposing an American viticultural area. Any 
interested person may petition ATF to establish a grape-growing region 
as a viticultural area. The petition should include:
    (a) Evidence that the name of the proposed viticultural area is 
locally and/or nationally known as referring to the area specified in 
the petition;
    (b) Historical or current evidence that the boundaries of the 
viticultural area are as specified in the petition;
    (c) Evidence relating to the geographical features (climate, soil, 
elevation, physical features, etc.) which distinguish the viticultural 
features of the proposed area from surrounding areas;
    (d) 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
    (e) A copy of the appropriate U.S.G.S. map(s) with the boundaries 
prominently marked.

Petitions

    ATF has received a petition from Mr. William J. A. Weir of Weir 
Vineyards for the Yorkville Highlands Appellation Committee 
(``Yorkville Highlands petition''). The petition was signed by Mr. 
Larry W. Martz of Martz Vineyards, Inc., Mr. Frank Souzao of Souzao 
Cellars, Mr. Michael J. Page, of Mountain House Vineyard, Mr. Robert A. 
Vidmar of Vidmar Vineyard, and Mr. Edward D. Wallo, of Yorkville 
Vineyards. The petitioners represent both wineries and growers within 
the proposed area. The petitioners note the area includes historic 
vineyards dating from 1914 as well as newly established vineyards.
    ATF has also received a related petition from Ms. Bernadette A. 
Byrne, Executive Director of the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance 
(``Mendocino petition''), requesting that the southern boundary of the 
existing Mendocino Viticultural Area be extended to coincide with the 
requested southern boundary in the Yorkville Highlands petition. The 
Mendocino Viticultural Area was established pursuant to T.D. ATF-178 on 
June 15, 1984 (49 FR 24711). The recent Mendocino petition incorporated 
the Yorkville Highlands petition by reference and stated that the 
proposed Yorkville Highlands southern boundary is appropriate for the 
Mendocino viticultural area as well.
    These two proposals, if adopted, would result in the Yorkville 
Highlands area being entirely within the Mendocino area. Both areas 
would be entirely within Mendocino County, California, as is the 
existing Mendocino viticultural area.
    The proposed new area consists of approximately 40,000 acres, of 
which approximately 70 are devoted to viticulture. There are seven 
growers and two wine producers within the proposed Yorkville Highlands 
area now, with two new growers planning vineyards and some existing 
growers planning to plant more vineyards. The proposed expansion of the 
Mendocino viticultural area would add approximately 10,000 acres to 
that area.

Evidence of Name

    The Yorkville Highlands petitioners supplied the following evidence 
that the name of the proposed new area is locally and/or nationally 
known as referring to the area specified in the petition:
    (a) A brochure published by the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance 
entitled ``Mendocino. Real Farmers, Real Wine. On California's Redwood 
Coast'' which lists ``Yorkville Highlands'' among the County's wine 
growing areas. In the brochure, the area is described as extending 
northwest from the Mendocino-Sonoma County border along Route 128, a 
description

[[Page 39985]]

which fits the area proposed for designation.
    (b) A map of ``Mendocino Wine Country'' published in ``Steppin' 
Out, California's Wine Country Magazine,'' volume XIII, issue 27, which 
includes the ``Yorkville Highlands'' area. Again, the area outlined on 
the map coincides with the boundaries requested by the petitioner.

Evidence of Boundaries

    The Yorkville Highlands petitioners have defined the proposed area 
primarily by reference to the Sonoma-Mendocino county line and by 
straight lines drawn between benchmarks, mountain peaks, and other 
features found on the U.S.G.S. maps.
    The proposed new area is within the North Coast viticultural area. 
If the Mendocino viticultural area is expanded as proposed, then the 
new area will be entirely within the Mendocino area as well. The 
proposed Yorkville Highlands area is bounded on the northwest by the 
Anderson Valley viticultural area, and surrounded by other viticultural 
areas less than five miles away. McDowell Valley lies to the northeast, 
Alexander Valley and Northern Sonoma lie to the southeast and south, 
and there is a new viticultural area under consideration to the 
southeast.

Geographical Features

    According to the petitioners, the proposed new area, including the 
area under consideration for addition to the existing Mendocino 
viticultural area, share characteristics of topography, soil 
composition and climate which distinguish the proposed viticultural 
area from the surrounding areas. For an overview of the geographical 
features which set the area apart, the petitioners submitted letters 
from Mr. Mark Welch, President of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau, Mr. 
Glenn McGourty, Viticultural Farm Advisor & County Director, University 
of California Cooperative Extension, and Mr. Steve Williams, of 
A.V.V.S.
    Mr. Welch stated that he believes the boundaries submitted reflect 
a unique and outstanding grape growing locale. He went on to say:

    The soils of the area are different from adjacent, recognized 
districts like the Anderson Valley, and the distinct micro climate 
offers warmer days, cool afternoon breezes and a substantial growing 
season for a low to mid region II.

    Similarly, Mr. McGourty stated that the soils and climate of the 
proposed viticultural area are ``significantly different from 
surrounding grape growing areas, being high elevation and in an area 
where the coastal Douglas Fir forests meet the oak woodland forests 
more typical of interior Mendocino County.''
    Mr. Williams stated he has been building and managing vineyards in 
the proposed ``Yorkville Highlands'' viticultural area for more than 
ten years. He notes that the proposed new area is different 
viticulturally from both the Anderson Valley viticultural area and the 
Hopland area of the Mendocino viticultural area. He gave the following 
details:

    The climate of the * * * area has days warmer than Anderson 
Valley but cooler than Hopland. The nights are cooler than both 
Anderson Valley and Hopland. This means many grape varieties can be 
grown in this area but will have a long ripening period which will 
greatly enhance fruit flavors and quality.
    In regards to soil the area also differs from [Anderson Valley] 
or Hopland. The * * * soils are thinner then [sic] Hopland but more 
fertile and varied than [Anderson Valley].

    The petitioners provided the following evidence to support their 
claims:

Topography

    According to the petitioners, the proposed ``Yorkville Highlands'' 
viticultural area lies generally along the headwaters of Dry Creek and 
Rancheria Creek. The petitioners state that the vineyards in the 
proposed ``Yorkville Highlands'' viticultural area are almost entirely 
above 800 feet in elevation. The petitioners describe the area as ``a 
continuous string of high benches and land troughs bordered by even 
higher ridges with Highway 128 running down the middle.'' The U.S.G.S. 
topographic maps submitted by the petitioners show the proposed area is 
a valley, with Highway 128 and the Rancheria and Dry Creeks running 
along the northwest-southeast axis of the area. This center line of the 
area is the lowest part, at approximately 800 feet, and the highest, in 
the area near the northern boundary, is over 3,000 feet.

Soil

    The petitioners state that the soils in the proposed new 
viticultural area are rocky hill soils characterized by gravel and old 
brittle rock. According to the petitioners, these generally thin soils 
found on the high benches and land troughs of the proposed area stand 
in stark contrast to the generally very loamy clay soils found in the 
valleys and bottom lands dominating the neighboring approved 
viticultural areas. Soil types mapped by the U.S. Soil Conservation 
Service include: Bearwallow, Hellman, Cole Loam, Henneke, Montara, 
Hopland Loam, Squawrock, Witherell, Yorkville and Boontling. The 
petitioners note only one or two of these soil types are found in 
common with a neighboring viticultural area.

Climate

    The petitioners state the climate in the proposed Yorkville 
Highlands viticultural area is influenced by marine air well over 50 
percent of the time. The petition states:

    Almost every morning during the growing season, the moist marine 
fog is found on the high bench lands and land troughs which comprise 
the proposed viticulture area and connect the cooler Anderson Valley 
with the much warmer Alexander Valley. The trees on these bench 
lands are draped with the moss from this ocean air invasion and 
cooler climatic condition.

    Unofficial heat summation data collected at the Weir Vineyards 
within the proposed area reflects a four year average of 3,060, 
compared to approximately 2,500 in Boonville and Philo to the northwest 
of the proposed area and 3,650 reported by the University of California 
Agricultural Extension Service in Cloverdale, to the southeast.
    Average annual rainfall within the proposed area from 1961 through 
1990, as measured by the Department of Water Resources, Eureka Flood 
Center at the Yorkville Station, was 50.55 inches. The Anderson Valley, 
to the northwest, receives an average of only 40.7 inches of rain per 
year.

Revised Mendocino Boundary

    Concurrent with consideration of the Yorkville Highlands petition, 
ATF is considering a revision of the southern boundary of the Mendocino 
viticultural area. The existing southern boundary of Mendocino runs 
through the middle of the proposed area. A large triangular portion of 
the proposed area is outside of the Mendocino area while the other 
portion of the proposed area is within the Mendocino area. This 
revision has been proposed by both the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance 
and the Yorkville Highlands petitioners.
    In support of the boundary revision, the petitioners note that the 
bisection of the proposed Yorkville Highlands area by Mendocino leaves 
similar growing areas and conditions within a few miles to a few feet 
of each other on the opposite side of the Mendocino Boundary. Mr. Bruce 
E. Bearden, Farm Advisor, Emeritus, University of California 
Cooperative Exchange, stated that the existing boundary arbitrarily 
excludes some of the regions naturally associated with existing 
vineyards. Mr. Bearden further states that the revised

[[Page 39986]]

boundary would reunite the related soils and climates of the area.

Proposed Boundary

    The proposed revision to the boundary of the Mendocino viticultural 
area is described in Sec. 9.93. In addition, there is a typographical 
error in 27 CFR Sec. 9.93(c)(11), which we propose to correct as part 
of this rulemaking.
    The boundary of the proposed Yorkville Highlands viticultural area 
may be found on six United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) maps 
with a scale of 1:24000. The boundary is described in Sec. 9.157.

Executive Order 12866

    It has been determined that this proposed regulation is not a 
significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, this proposal is not subject to the analysis required by 
this Executive Order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    It is hereby certified that this regulation will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
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 a particular area. No new requirements are proposed. Accordingly, 
a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(j)) and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR Part 1320, do not 
apply to this notice of proposed rulemaking because no requirement to 
collect information is proposed.

Public Participation

    ATF requests comments from all interested parties. 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, but assurance of consideration cannot be 
given except as to comments received on or before the closing date.
    ATF will not recognize any comment as confidential. Comments may be 
disclosed to the public. Any material which a commenter considers to be 
confidential or inappropriate for disclosure to the public should not 
be included in the comment. The name of the person submitting a comment 
is not exempt from disclosure. During the comment period, any person 
may request an opportunity to present oral testimony at a public 
hearing. However, the Director reserves the right to determine, in 
light of all circumstances, whether a public hearing will be held.
    Drafting Information: The principal author of this document is 
Marjorie D. Ruhf, Wine, Beer and Spirits Regulations Branch, Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

    Administrative practices and procedures, Consumer protection, 
Viticultural areas, and Wine.

Authority and Issuance

    Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 9, American 
Viticultural Areas, is 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.

    Par. 2. Section 9.93 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(11), by 
revising paragraphs (c)(17) and (c)(18), and by adding new paragraph 
(c)(19) to read as follows:


Sec. 9.93  Mendocino.

* * * * *
    (c) Boundaries. * * *
    (11) Thence in a straight line in a northwest direction to the 
junction of Baily Gulch and the South Branch, North Fork of the Navarro 
River, located in Section 8, T.15N., R.15W.;
* * * * *
    (17) Thence continuing in a straight line in a southerly direction 
to the southwest corner of Section 5, T. 12 N., R. 13 W., and the 
Mendocino County/Sonoma County line;
    (18) Thence continuing in a straight line in a southeasterly 
direction to the intersection of the southwest corner of Section 32, T. 
12 N., R. 11 W., and the Mendocino County/Sonoma County line;
    (19) Thence following the Mendocino County/Sonoma County line in an 
easterly, northerly, and then an easterly direction to the beginning 
point.
    Par. 3. A new Sec. 9.157 is added to subpart C to read as follows:


Sec. 9.157  Yorkville Highlands.

    (a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this 
section is ``Yorkville Highlands.''
    (b) Approved maps. The appropriate maps for determining the 
boundary of the Yorkville Highlands viticultural area are the following 
six U.S.G.S. topographical maps (7.5 minute series, 1:24000 scale):
    (1) ``Gube Mountain, Calif.,'' provisional edition 1991.
    (2) ``Big Foot Mountain, Calif.,'' provisional edition 1991.
    (3) ``Cloverdale, Calif.,'' 1960, photoinspected 1975.
    (4) ``Ornbaun Valley Quadrangle, Calif.,'' provisional edition, 
1991.
    (5) ``Yorkville, Calif.,'' provisional edition, 1991.
    (6) ``Hopland, Calif.,'' 1960, photoinspected 1975.
    (c) Boundary. The Yorkville Highlands viticultural area is located 
in Mendocino County, California. The boundary is as follows:
    (1) The beginning point is Benchmark 680, located in Section 30, T. 
12 N., R. 13 W., on the Ornbaum Valley quadrangle map;
    (2) From the beginning point, the boundary proceeds in a straight 
line in a northeasterly direction to a point intersecting the North 
Fork of Robinson Creek and the Section 20, T. 13 N., R. 13 W.;
    (3) The boundary then proceeds in a straight line in a 
southeasterly direction to the summit of Sanel Mountain, located at the 
southeast corner of Section 30, T. 13 N., R. 12 W., on the Yorkville 
quadrangle map;
    (4) The boundary then proceeds in a straight line in a 
southeasterly direction until it reaches the southeast corner of 
Section 15, T. 12 N., R 11 W., on the Hopland quadrangle map;
    (5) The boundary then proceeds south, following the eastern 
boundaries of Sections 22 and 27, T. 12 N., R 11 W., until it reaches 
the Mendocino-Sonoma County line on the Cloverdale quadrangle map;
    (6) The boundary then follows the Mendocino-Sonoma county line 
west, south and west until it reaches the southwest corner of Section 
32, T. 12 N. R. 11 W.;
    (7) The boundary then diverges from the county line and proceeds in 
a northwesterly direction, traversing the Big Foot Mountain quadrangle 
map, until it reaches the southwest corner of Section 5, T. 12 N., R. 
13 W. on the Ornbaun Valley quadrangle map;
    (8) The boundary proceeds in a straight line in a northerly 
direction until it reaches the beginning point at Benchmark 680.

    Approved: July 16, 1997.
John W. Magaw,
Director.
[FR Doc. 97-19610 Filed 7-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P