[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48658-48661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24417]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 9

[Notice No. 866]
RIN 1512-AA07


Proposal To Establish a Santa Rita Hills Viticultural Area (98R-
129 P)

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has received 
a petition proposing the establishment of a viticultural area located 
in Santa Barbara County, California, to be known as ``Santa Rita 
Hills.'' The proposed area occupies more than 48 square miles. The 
proposal constitutes a petition from viticulturists and vintners of the 
proposed area under the direction of J. Richard Sanford (Sanford 
Winery), Bryan Babcock (Babcock Vineyards and Winery), and Wesley D. 
Hagen (Vineyard Manager of Clos Pepe Vineyards).

DATES: Written comments must be received by December 10, 1998.

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. 866). Copies of the petition, the proposed 
regulation, the appropriate maps, and written comments received will be 
available for public inspection during normal business hours at: ATF 
Public Reading Room, Office of Public Affairs and Disclosure, Room 
6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha D. Baker, Regulations Division, 
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 definitive 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.

[[Page 48659]]

    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 (AVA) as a delimited grape-
growing region distinguishable by geographical features, the boundaries 
of which have been recognized and defined in subpart C of part 9. 
Section 4.25a(e)(2) outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA. 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 (or copies) of the appropriate U.S.G.S. map(s) with the 
boundaries prominently marked.

Petition

    ATF received a petition from J. Richard Sanford (Sanford Winery) 
which was drafted by Wesley D. Hagen (Vineyard Manager of Clos Pepe 
Vineyards), on behalf of viticulturists and vintners working in Santa 
Barbara County, California. The petition proposes to establish a 
viticultural area surrounded by but separate from the Western Santa 
Ynez Valley AVA of California to be known as ``Santa Rita Hills.'' 
According to the petitioner, the proposed boundary encloses an 
estimated area slightly greater than forty-eight (48) square miles and 
contains approximately 500 acres of planted varietal winegrapes. The 
petition also states that currently two (2) wineries and seventeen (17) 
vineyards exist within the proposed Santa Rita Hills area. Two 
additional vineyards are in the works.

Evidence of Name

    The petitioner provided evidence that the name ``Santa Rita'' is 
locally known as referring to the area specified in the petition. In 
the exhibits and maps furnished with the petition, there are numerous 
references to the area.
    The Land Records of Santa Barbara County from the U.S.G.S. 
furnished by the petitioner show the Santa Rita area dating back to 
1845. According to this information, Santa Rita was established as a 
recognized political and geographical region when a land grant for 
Santa Rita was made to Jose Ramon Malo from Spanish governor Pio Pico 
on April 12, 1845. The title was accredited to Jose Ramon Malo on June 
25, 1875 by President Ulysses S. Grant as confirmed in the U.S. Patent 
Book ``A.'' (Pertinent pages are shown as exhibits to the petition.) 
The patent issued included 13,316 acres within the boundary of the 
Santa Rita Land Grant.
    Evidence submitted with the petition to support the use of the name 
``Santa Rita Hills'' as an AVA includes:
    (a) The U.S.G.S. Lompoc, Lompoc Hills, Los Alamos, and Santa Rosa. 
Hills Quadrangle maps used to show the boundaries of the proposed area 
use the name ``Santa Rita Hills'' to identify the area.
    (b) The U.S.G.S. Water-Resources Investigations Report 970-4056 
(Evaluation of Ground Water Flow and Solute Transport in the Lompoc 
Area, Santa Barbara County, California) discusses the ``Santa Rita 
Upland Basin.'' The report indicates that ``Santa Rita'' is a 
recognized geological, geographical, and hydrological appellation in 
Santa Barbara County, California.
    (c) An excerpt, ``From the Missions to Prohibition'', in the 
publication Aged in Oak: The Story of the Santa Barbara County Wine 
Industry (1998), provided by the petitioner shows the vineyards and 
wineries in Santa Barbara County prior to 1900 to include the name 
``Santa Rita.''
    (d) The text provided by the petitioner from History of Santa 
Barbara County (1939) states, ``Following the secularization of the 
Mission La Purisima, the rest of the valley was broken up into seven 
great ranchos granted to private owners. They were Santa Rosa, Santa 
Rita, Salsipuedes, La Purisima, Mission Vieja, Lompoc and a portion of 
the Jesus Maria.'' (Italics added for emphasis.)

Evidence of Boundaries

    Per the submission of the petitioner, the proposed ``Santa Rita 
Hills'' AVA is located in Northern Santa Barbara County, California, 
east of Lompoc (U.S. Highway 1) and west of Buellton (U.S. Highway 
101). The petitioner stated that a committee of viticulturists, 
consultants and vintners with formal geological, geographic and 
agricultural education selected specific hilltops in the Purisima Hills 
to the north and the Santa Rosa Hills to the south which isolate the 
area to serve as the boundaries.
    Precise boundaries can be found on the five (5) U.S.G.S. Quadrangle 
maps (7.5 minute series originally dated 1959) submitted with the 
petition. On these maps, the Santa Rita Hills are the dominant central 
feature of the proposed AVA with its transverse (east/west) maritime 
throat stretching from Lompoc to a few miles west of the Buellton 
Flats. The Santa Rosa Hills to the south and the Purisima Hills to the 
north isolate the proposed area geographically and climatically.
    Again, the U.S.G.S. Water-Resources Investigations Report 970-4056 
describes the Santa Rita Upland Basin as being ``in hydrologic 
continuity with the Lompoc Plain, Lompoc Upland and Buellton Upland 
basins, but separated from the Santa Ynez River alluvium by non-water-
bearing rocks.'' It goes on to state, ``[a]n ongoing U.S.G.S. study 
treats the Santa Rita Valley as a separate unit * * *'' and ``* * * the 
eastern surface drainage divide between Santa Rita and Lompoc basins 
was used as a ground-water divide by the U.S.G.S.''

Climate

    According to the petitioner, the climatic features of the proposed 
viticultural area and thus the varietals grown therein, set it apart 
from the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, which borders the proposed area. 
According to the petitioner, the Santa Ynez Valley area east of U.S. 
Highway 101 is characterized by higher temperatures than the proposed 
``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA to the west, which has a cool climate and is 
thus more conducive to growing ``Region One'' cool-climate winegrape 
varietals. By contrast, the eastern area of the Santa Ynez Valley, a 
``Region Two'' growing area, provides a warmer climate and is well 
known for the production of varietal winegrapes such as Cabernet 
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Mourvedre, and 
other varietals that require a significantly higher temperature (degree 
days) for adequate ripening. The proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA to 
the west of U.S. Highway 101 is better known for varietals such as 
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which are the predominant winegrapes there. 
The petitioner states, ``It is much more difficult to gain a balance of 
high ripeness to strong acid content in cool-climate varietals grown in 
the eastern Santa Ynez Valley * * * the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA 
will correctly identify and distinguish a unique cool-

[[Page 48660]]

climate wine production area of Santa Barbara County, California.''
    In a 1991 article from Expansion and Experimentation submitted by 
the petitioner to substantiate this claim, viticulturist Jeff Newton 
states, ``The best Chardonnays and Pinots come from the cooler areas 
west of U.S. [Highway] 101 closer to the sea, and the best Sauvignon 
Blanc and reds like Cabernet come from the warmer region to the east.'' 
The petitioner also submitted other articles highlighting the area's 
notoriety for producing ``top-rated'' Chardonnays and ``sumptuous'' 
Pinot Noirs and proclaiming it to be ``probably the greatest grape-
growing area anywhere in the United States, particularly when it comes 
to great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.''
    In addition, the petitioner provided copies of a comparative study 
of the University of California weather station records, records of the 
National Weather Service, the Western Regional Climate Center, the 
National Climatic Data Center, and those of the CIRUS Weather Station 
system accessed in Santa Ynez and Cachuma Lake (which is located within 
the eastern boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA). The petitioner 
states that, according to this study, ambient temperature and 
evapotranspiration rates during veraison and ripening are disparate for 
two adjacent viticultural locales. The petitioner's analysis of the 
study indicates that the average post-veraison ripening temperature is 
14.7 deg.F hotter within the Santa Ynez Valley AVA than in the proposed 
``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA to the west. Similarly, the petitioner 
estimates the heating degree day differential (with the base of 
50 deg.F) between the two areas to be 61 heat degree days, indicating 
an annual 92 heating degree days in the western Lompoc boundary and an 
annual 153 heating degree days in the eastern Cachuma Lake boundary.
    These temperature differences, according to the petitioner, are the 
result of a unique set of topographical, geological and climatic 
influences, particularly coastal in origin. According to the 
petitioner, the proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA is situated within 
the clearly defined east/west transverse maritime throat, and thus is 
susceptible to the ocean's cooling influence. This enables diurnal 
ocean breezes direct access to the coastal valleys between the Purisima 
Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills, which house the proposed AVA. The 
petitioner goes on to state that this coastal influence is not nearly 
as pronounced in the Santa Ynez Valley east of U.S. Highway 101 and the 
Buellton Flats. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the proximity 
of the proposed AVA to the coastal fog from the Pacific Ocean fills the 
hills and valleys of the proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA in the late 
night and early morning hours. This intensifies the cool-climate 
influence on varietal winegrape production between the geological 
boundaries of the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills.

Soil

    The petitioner states that the soils of the Santa Rita Hills are 
broken down from an array of geological parent material, with the most 
common types being loams, sandy loams, silt loams, and clay loams. 
These soils are based on large percentages of dune sand, marine 
deposits, recent alluvium, riverwash, and terrace deposits, which are 
shown on maps provided in the exhibits of the petition. According to 
the petitioner, soil samples collected from selected sites within the 
proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA and the adjacent Santa Ynez Valley 
AVA show a distinct difference resulting from a high percentage of 
alluvial and marine sand within the proposed area. While the soil 
samples from the proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA show higher 
percentages of sand, silt and sandy loams, the soil samples from the 
eastern Santa Ynez Valley show a higher percentage of gravelly and clay 
loams, according to the petitioner.
    The petitioner also included soil analysis test results from 
several vineyards in the proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA conducted by 
various labs in the area to support the distinct soil data claims.

Topography

    The topography of the proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA is distinct 
and isolated from the rest of the Pacific Coast, the Central Coast, and 
the Santa Ynez Valley east of U.S. Highway 101 and the Buellton Flats, 
according to the petitioner. The proposed AVA is demarcated by the 
east-west ranges of the Purisima Hills on the north and the Santa Rosa 
Hills on the south, framing Santa Rita Hills. When surveying the land 
within the proposed boundaries to determine what locales would be the 
outer ``edges,'' the petitioner states the following was taken into 
account: viticultural viability (primarily hillside and alluvial basin 
plantings) and the coastal influence suitable for cool-climate still 
winegrape production. The petitioner goes on to state that ``The actual 
topography of the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA is an oak studded, 
hill-laden maritime throat that runs east to west, a few miles east of 
Lompoc to a few miles west of Buellton Flats. The coastal influence 
enters from the west, through Lompoc, and abruptly loses its influence 
at the proposed eastern boundary as demarcated on the enclosed U.S.G.S. 
maps. Elevations within the proposed boundary range from near sea-level 
to ridge-line 1800 feet above sea level.''

Proposed Boundary

    The boundary of the proposed ``Santa Rita Hills'' AVA may be found 
on the five (5) 1:24:000 scale U.S.G.S. Quadrangle 7.5-Minute Series 
maps included with the petition. The boundary is described in 
Sec. 9.162.

Public Participation--Written Comments

    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. However, assurance of consideration can 
only be given to those received on or before the closing date.
    ATF will not recognize any comment as confidential. All comments 
may be disclosed to the public. Any material that the 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 the comment is not exempt from disclosure.
    Any person who desires an opportunity to comment orally at a public 
hearing on the proposed regulation should submit his or her request, in 
writing, to the Director within the 90-day comment period. However, the 
Director reserves the right to determine, in light of all 
circumstances, whether a public hearing will be held.

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.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    It is hereby certified that this proposed 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

[[Page 48661]]

proposed. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required.

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.

Drafting Information

    The author of this document is Marsha D. Baker, Regulations 
Division, 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 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 Sec. 9.162 to read as 
follows:
* * * * *


Sec. 9.162  Santa Rita Hills.

(a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this section 
is ``Santa Rita Hills.''
(b) Approved maps. The appropriate maps for determining the boundary of 
the Santa Rita Hills viticultural area are five (5) U.S.G.S. Quadrangle 
7.5 Minute Series maps titled:
(1) ``Lompoc, Calif.,'' edition of 1959 (photorevised in 1982).
(2) ``Lompoc Hills, Calif.,'' edition of 1959 (photoinspected 1971).
(3) ``Los Alamos, Calif.,'' edition of 1959.
(4) ``Santa Rosa Hills, Calif.,'' edition of 1959 (photoinspected 
1978).
(5) ``Solvang, Calif.,'' edition of 1959 (photorevised 1982).
(c) Boundary. The ``Santa Rita Hills'' viticultural area is located 
within Santa Barbara County, California. The boundary is as follows:

    (1) The beginning point is found on the Solvang, California 
U.S.G.S. Quadrangle map at an unnamed hilltop, elevation 1600 feet, in 
section 27, T.6N, R. 32W, on the Solvang, Calif., Quadrangle U.S.G.S. 
map.
    (2) Then proceed north and slightly west 2.3 miles to an unnamed 
hilltop elevation 1174 feet, Section 15, T.6N., R. 32W.
    (3) Proceed west and slightly north 1.85 miles to an unnamed 
hilltop elevation 899 feet within the heart of the Santa Rosa Land 
Grant, T.7N., R. 32W, on the Santa Rosa Hills, Calif., Quadrangle 
U.S.G.S. map.
    (4) Proceed north approximately 2 miles to an unnamed hilltop 
elevation 1063 feet within the northeastern part of the Santa Rosa Land 
Grant, T.7N, R. 32W, on the Los Alamos, Calif., Quadrangle U.S.G.S. 
map.
    (5) Proceed northwest 1.1 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 961 
feet. Section 29, T.7N., R. 32W.
    (6) Proceed north and slightly east 1.1 miles to an unnamed 
elevation 1443 feet. Section 20, T.7N., R. 32W.
    (7) Proceed west 1.4 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1479 
feet. Section 24, T.7N., R. 33W.
    (8) Proceed north 1.2 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1705 
feet. Section 13, T.7N., R. 33W.
    (9) Proceed northwest approximately 2 miles to an unnamed hilltop 
elevation 1543. Section 10, T.7N., R. 33W.
    (10) Proceed west and slightly south 1.6 miles to an unnamed 
hilltop elevation 935 feet within the northern section of the Santa 
Rosa Land Grant. T.7N., R. 33W.
    (11) Proceed south by southwest 1.5 miles to an unnamed hilltop 
elevation 605 feet in the northern section of the Santa Rosa Land 
Grant. T.7N., R. 33W.
    (12) Proceed west by southwest approximately 2 miles to the point 
where California Highway 246 intersects with the 200-foot elevation 
contour line comprising the western border of the Santa Rita Hills, 
within the Santa Rosa Land Grant. T.7N., R. 34W, on the Lompoc, Calif., 
Quadrangle U.S.G.S. map.
    (13) Proceed following the 200 foot elevation contour line south 
along the western border of the Santa Rita Hills to an extreme southern 
tip of the 200 foot elevation contour that is .6 miles due west of an 
unnamed hilltop 361 feet in elevation in the Canada de Salispuedes Land 
Grant. T.6N., R. 34W.
    (14) Proceed southeast 2.35 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 
1070 feet. Section 18, T.6N., R. 33W, on the Lompoc Hills, Calif., 
Quadrangle U.S.G.S. map.
    (15) Proceed east and slightly south 1.95 miles to an unnamed 
hilltop elevation 921 feet. Section 16, T.6N., R. 33W, on the Santa 
Rosa Hills, Calif., Quadrangle U.S.G.S. map.
    (16) Proceed east by southeast 1.35 miles to an unnamed hilltop 
elevation 1307 feet. Section: on intersection between Sections 22 and 
23, T.6N., R. 33W.
    (17) Proceed east 2.35 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1507 
feet in the southern area of the Santa Rosa Land Grant. T.6N., 32W.
    (18) Proceed east by southeast 2.1 miles to an unnamed hilltop 
elevation 1279 feet in the southern area of the Santa Rosa Land Grant. 
T.6N., 32W.
    (19) Then proceed east by southeast 1.45 miles to the point of the 
beginning.

    Approved: September 3, 1998.
John W. Magaw,
Director.
[FR Doc. 98-24417 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P