[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5756-5761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2956]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 9

[Notice No. 936]
RIN: 1512-AA07


Yadkin Valley Viticultural Area (2001R-88P)

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has received a 
petition proposing the establishment of ``Yadkin Valley'' as a 
viticultural area in North Carolina. The proposed viticultural area 
consists of approximately 1,231,000 acres encompassing all of Surry, 
Wilkes, Yadkin and portions of Stokes, Forsyth, and Davie counties.

DATES: Written comments must be received by April 8, 2002.

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. 936). To comment by facsimile or e-mail, 
see the ``Public Participation'' section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim DeVanney, Regulations Division, 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20226; telephone 
202-927-8210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on Viticultural Areas

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

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), as the delegate 
of the Secretary of the Treasury, has authority under the Federal 
Alcohol Administration Act, 27 U.S.C. 205(e), to prescribe regulations 
that insure that alcohol beverages are labeled or marked to ``provide 
the consumer with adequate information as to the identity'' of the 
products.
    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 in 
the labeling and advertising of wine.
    On October 2, 1979, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-60 (44 FR 
56692), which added 27 CFR part 9, American Viticultural Areas, the 
listing of approved viticultural areas, the names of which may be used 
as appellations of origin.

What Is the Definition of a Viticultural Area?

    Section 4.25a(e)(1), title 27 CFR, defines a viticultural area as a 
delimited grape-growing region distinguishable by geographical 
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 must 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;

[[Page 5757]]

     Evidence relating to the geographical features (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 of the appropriate U.S.G.S. map(s) with the 
boundaries prominently marked.

Yadkin Valley Petition

    ATF received a petition from Ms. Patricia McRitchie on behalf of 
Shelton Vineyards, Inc., Dobson, North Carolina, proposing to establish 
a viticultural area within the State of North Carolina, to be known as 
``Yadkin Valley.'' The viticultural area encompasses Surry, Wilkes, and 
Yadkin counties and portions of Stokes, Forsyth, and Davie counties, 
all in North Carolina. The proposed viticultural area is located 
entirely within the Yadkin River watershed.
    The proposed area encompasses approximately 1,924 square miles or 
1,231,000 acres. Within these boundaries, there are over 30 growers 
that devote approximately 350 acres to the cultivation of wine grapes. 
Currently, there are three bonded wineries and at least two other 
wineries under construction.

What Name Evidence Has Been Provided?

    According to the petitioner, the proposed viticultural area has 
been known as the Yadkin Valley since pre-colonial times. The first 
written historical appearance of the name Yadkin (also referred to as 
Yattken or Yattkin) was in 1674 in the writing of an early trader, 
Abraham Wood, whose English scouts passed through the area in 1673. It 
was used in reference to the Native American tribe found living along 
the river known as Yadkin. Subsequently, the name Yadkin was applied to 
many natural features and man-made structures in the area. In fact, the 
only references to Yadkin as a place name are to places located in 
North Carolina: Yadkin Valley, the Yadkin River, Yadkin County, the 
towns of Yadkin Falls, Yadkin College, and Yadkinville. It is also used 
to name businesses, schools, and organizations located in the 
northwestern piedmont of the State.
    The petitioner states that there is rich historical and 
anthropological evidence of settlement and cultivation in the Yadkin 
Valley. Native American settlements date back to approximately 500 B.C. 
The first non-Native settlers, the Moravians, arrived in the Yadkin 
Valley in the 1740's. They originally scouted land in the Blue Ridge 
Mountains near Boone, but did not find a satisfactory site for 
settlement. The Moravians followed the Yadkin River east, finally 
reaching the three forks of the Muddy Creek, a tributary of Yadkin 
River. It was here that the first of these settlements were made in 
what are now Forsyth and Stokes counties. These settlements were 
Bethabara, established in 1753, and Bethania, established in 1759. 
Bethabara was a fortified settlement built to protect early settlers 
from attacks by Indians who would sweep down into the Yadkin Valley 
from the Blue Ridge Mountains during the French and Indian War. The 
Moravians were meticulous recordkeepers and references to the Yadkin 
Valley can be found in pre-colonial writings as well as in later 
resources.
    The petitioner contends that references to the Yadkin Valley can be 
found in histories of the region during the American Revolution and the 
Civil War periods. Two of the best known Revolutionary battles in the 
Yadkin Valley are the Whig victories at Kings Mountain and the Battle 
of Shallow Ford. According to Ann Brownlee, in ``The Battle of Shallow 
Ford'' (12/1/96, 2/24/01 http://www.velocenet.net/shallowford/battle.htm), these battles were believed to have ``turned the tide of 
the War for Independence in North Carolina to the Patriots' 
advantage.''
    The petitioner states that the period immediately after the Civil 
War was highlighted by a steady influx of settlers into the Yadkin 
Valley and was characterized by subsistent farming on its rich soils. 
Toward the latter part of the 19th century, the focus was on cotton and 
tobacco. By the early 20th century, the change to tobacco as a cash 
crop was secure. At the close of the 20th century, the predominance of 
tobacco growing in the northwest piedmont of North Carolina waned. In 
its place is an increased interest in grape growing, which is rooted in 
pre-colonial North Carolina.
    The petitioner states that, in an article titled ``N.C. Winery 
History'' (North Carolina Grape Council Web site, 2/24/01, http://www.ncagr/com/markets/commodit/horticul/grape/winehist.htm), the first 
cultivated wine grape in the United States was grown in North Carolina. 
The first known recorded account of the scuppernong grape is found in 
the logbook of explorer Giovanni de Verranzano. He wrote in 1524, 
``Many vines growing naturally there [in North Carolina] that would no 
doubt yield excellent wines.''
    The wine industry in North Carolina thrived through the 19th and 
20th centuries until prohibition. At that time, the industry, which was 
centered in the eastern part of the State, was based on muscadine wine.
    The petitioner contends that one of the first modern major 
plantings of vinifera grapes in North Carolina occurred in 1972, when 
Jack Kroustalis established Westbend Vineyards, located in the Yadkin 
Valley. According to ``Carolina Wine Country'', ``[t]he vines 
flourished in the rich soil of the Yadkin River Valley.'' In 1988, 
Kroustalis built the first bonded winery in the Yadkin Valley. Other 
growers in Yadkin Valley took note of Westbend Vineyard's success with 
vinifera grapes and followed suit. By the end of 2000, over 350 acres 
of grapes were planted in the Yadkin Valley. The North Carolina 
Department of Agriculture has recognized this area as a ``unique and 
valuable winegrowing region.''
    In 1999, Shelton Vineyards began planting 200 acres of vinifera 
grapes on land considered perfectly suited to vinifera grape growing. 
The following year, they opened a state-of-the-art 30,000 case winery. 
There are currently two wineries under construction in the proposed 
viticultural area. The Yadkin Valley Wine Grower's Cooperative was 
recently incorporated.
    In 1999, Surry Community College began offering continuing 
education viticulture courses. Spurred by the tremendous interest in 
grape growing, the College initiated a two-year viticulture program, 
which began in the fall of 2000. The program was designed with the 
intent of educating future grape growers to take advantage of the 
favorable growing environment provided by the Yadkin Valley. In 
December of 2000, the Golden Leaf Foundation awarded the College over 
$130,000 to support the establishment of a demonstration vineyard and 
winery for use by students in the program. The petitioner contends that 
this provides further evidence and recognition of the promise that 
Yadkin Valley holds as a valuable and distinct viticultural area.
    Reference materials used to prepare this petition consistently 
include the entire counties of Wilkes, Surry, and Yadkin in the Yadkin 
Valley, as well as portions of Stokes and Forsyth Counties. Davie and 
Iredell Counties are also commonly included. However, the petitioner 
contends that, for reasons discussed in the following section of the 
petition, Iredell County and the southern portion of Davie County

[[Page 5758]]

should not be included in the proposed Yadkin Valley viticultural area.
    The foregoing is evidence that Yadkin Valley is locally and 
nationally known as encompassing the area proposed by this petition.

What Evidence Relating to Geographical Features Has Been Provided?

Soil
    The information in this section was prepared by Roger J. Leab, Soil 
Scientist, Natural Resource Conservation Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture. Mr. Leab was Soil Survey Project Leader for 
Surry County and Stokes County. He is currently the Soil Survey Project 
Leader for Alamance County. The soil information was compiled from the 
published soil surveys of Wilkes, Stoke, Yadkin, Davie, and Forsyth 
Counties and the data collected for the soon-to-be-published soil 
survey of Surry County.
    The soils of the proposed Yadkin Valley viticultural area are 
formed mainly from residuum (saprolite) weathered from felsic 
metamorphic rocks (gneisses, schists, and phyllites) of the Blue Ridge 
Geologic Belt and the Smith River Allochothon and from metamorphosed 
granitic rocks of the inner Piedmont Belt. The extreme southeastern 
part of the area is formed from saprolite weathered from igneous 
intrusive rocks (granites, gabbros and diorites) and some gneisses and 
schists, all of the Charlotte Belt.
    Most of the proposed viticultural area is in the mesic soil 
temperature regime, which, at a depth of 20 inches, has an average 
annual soil temperature of 47 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme 
southeastern part of the area is in the thermic temperature regime, 
which is the 59 to 72 degree Fahrenheit range.
    The dominant soil series formed from residuum in the mesic area are 
Fairview, Clifford, Woolwine, Westfield, Rhodhiss, and Toast soils. The 
dominant soil series formed from residuum in the thermic area are 
Pacolet, Cecil, Madison, Appling, and Wedowee soils. There are also 
some large areas of soils, which formed in old fluvial sediments of 
high stream terraces. These are the Braddock series in the mesic area 
and the Masada, Hiwassee, and Wickham series in the thermic area. These 
soils all have clayey or fine-loamy subsoils with good internal 
structure and moderate permeability. They are mostly very deep and well 
drained. These soils are acidic and have low natural fertility, 
requiring a well-structured fertility plan.
    The soil series that formed in residuum from the mafic intrusive 
rocks (gabbros and diorites), which occur scattered along the extreme 
southeastern part of the proposed viticultural area, have slightly 
better natural fertility. However, they have subsoils with mixed 
mineralogy clays. The Gaston and Mecklenburg series have moderate or 
moderately slow permeability and are suitable to moderately suitable 
for viticulture. However, the Enon and Iredell series have high shrink-
swell clayey subsoils, which perch water during wet periods and result 
in less than desirable internal drainage.
    The less than desirable, high shrink-swell clayey soils are more 
abundant to the south and east of the proposed viticultural area. The 
Blue Ridge Mountains are to the west and north of the proposed area. 
The petitioner contends that these limitations define the Yadkin Valley 
as a unique viticultural area.
Climate
    Data for precipitation, temperature and heat summation were 
provided by the State Climate Office of North Carolina.
    Hardiness Zone. The proposed viticultural area is in Zone 7a of the 
USDA Hardiness Zone Map. The surrounding areas are in Zones 6b and 7b. 
This zone is well suited for growing grapes while the adjacent zones 
are not as favorable for growing vinifera grapes. For example, the 
Columbia Valley viticultural area in Washington State is also located 
in Zone 7a.
    The Yadkin Valley is located in the warm temperate latitude between 
36'00" and 36'30" N. This is an area well suited to growing vinifera 
grapes while latitudes below 35'00" are not suited to vinifera grape 
growing, according to Gordon S. Howell and Timothy K Mansfield's 
article, ``Microclimate and the Grapevine: Site Selection for Vineyards 
(A Review),'' in ``Vinifera Wine Growers Journal,'' Fall 1977, 373.
    Precipitation. The Yadkin Valley has an average rainfall of 46.42 
inches. The area to the west and northwest receives, on average, more 
than 68 inches of rain per year. The area to the south and east 
receives, on average, 43.37 inches of rain per year. In general, the 
Yadkin Valley receives less precipitation than the area to the west and 
northwest and slightly more than the areas to the south and the east.
    Temperature. The Yadkin Valley has average maximum annual 
temperatures of 69.85 degrees Fahrenheit and average minimum annual 
temperatures of 44.90 degrees Fahrenheit. The area to the west-
northwest has an average maximum temperature of 58.6 degrees Fahrenheit 
and an average minimum annual temperature of 40.00 degrees Fahrenheit. 
The area to the east has an average maximum annual temperature of 68.4 
degrees Fahrenheit and an average minimum annual temperature of 46.0 
degrees Fahrenheit. The area to the south has an average maximum annual 
temperature of 71.5 degrees Fahrenheit and an average minimum annual 
temperature of 48.1 degrees Fahrenheit.
    In summary, the Yadkin Valley is much warmer than the area to the 
west and northwest and has slightly higher maximum and minimum 
temperatures than the area to the east. The Yadkin Valley has lower 
maximum and minimum temperatures than the area to the south. 
Temperature differences become more pronounced the further south one 
travels. In addition, as you proceed east past the Greensboro area, the 
temperatures, both maximum and minimum, become warmer than in the 
proposed viticultural area.
    Heat Summation. Using Amerine and Winkler heat summation 
definitions, the proposed viticultural area is in climatic region IV, 
with 3743 degree-days. The areas to the east are in region IV. The area 
to the west-northwest is in region I, and the area to the south is in 
region V (Greensboro, NC is close to region V).
    The data for the following analyses are taken from the North 
Carolina State University Horticulture Information Leaflet ``Average 
Growing Season for Selected North Carolina Locations'' (12/96, revised 
12/98) by Katharine Perry.
    Frost-Free Season/Growing Season. The proposed viticultural area 
enjoys a frost-free season lasting from April 22 to October 15. This is 
a growing season of 176 days and is two to four weeks longer than the 
region to the west. The frost-free/growing season in the proposed 
viticultural area is similar to the area immediately to the south. In 
contrast, the regions to the east-southeast have a frost-free and 
growing season four to six weeks longer than the proposed viticultural 
area.
    Climate Summary. The proposed viticultural area has more moderate 
temperatures and precipitation than the surrounding areas. The growing 
season and frost-dates fall within the optimum range for cultivation of 
premium vinifera grapes. These data support the proposition that the 
Yadkin Valley possesses climatic conditions distinguishing it from the 
surrounding areas.
Geology
    Matthew Mayberry, Chairman/President, River Ridge Land Company, 
Inc., provided the following geological commentary.

[[Page 5759]]

    The rocks and subsequent soils of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont 
Physiographic Provinces of the proposed viticultural area have origins 
extending back to the early formation of the earth's continental 
landmasses. Some rocks of the subject area have been dated to 
approximately 1.8 billion years old.
    The geologic history is tremendously complex and involves plate 
tectonics (continental drift, continental collisions, subduction zones, 
intercontinental deformations) and the whole spectrum of uplifting and 
erosional wearing down for the entire mountain building cycle. Each of 
these cycles required several hundred million years during which the 
ongoing uplift and erosional wearing down processes were constantly 
active. The erosional cycle gradually reduces land surfaces from 
mountains to relatively level surfaces, gently sloping toward a 
depositional basin (ocean/sea). Geological evidence indicates at least 
three complete tectonic cycles, the last of which involved a collision 
and later separation of the Euro African Plate with the North American 
Plate. This produced a mountain range approximating the present day 
Andes Mountains of South America and eventually resulted in the 
creation of the Atlantic Ocean and the present day plate positions.
    During a period of three hundred million years, following the build 
up of this original Appalachian Mountain system, the forces of weather 
and erosion have likely removed thousands of meters of rock with the 
resulting Piedmont and Blue Ridge surfaces of today. Evidence of three 
erosional cycles is represented by present day mountain peaks, e.g., 
Mount Mitchell in North Carolina and Mount Rogers in Virginia. These 
peaks represent the oldest leveling cycle. The peaks of Kings Mountain, 
Pilot Mountain, Sauratown Mountain and the ridges of the Blue Ridge 
system represent the next erosional cycle. This middle cycle is 
definitely an older cycle (400,000,000 years) than the present-day 
Piedmont and Coastal Plain, which represent the third leveling cycle 
with their gentle sloping surface to the Atlantic Ocean. A current 
hypothesis is that the Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont are in a 
cycle where uplift is exceeding erosion by about 100 feet per 1,000,000 
years for the Appalachian system of today.
    The highly complex rocks of the present day Blue Ridge and Piedmont 
provinces represent a core area that has been present and re-
crystallized and re-metamorphosed through several of these mountain 
building cycles to produce the complex schists, gneisses and igneous 
rocks of today. Relics of a couple of the hot spots that re-
crystallized rock are the granites of Mount Airy and Stone Mountain, 
North Carolina. The weathering of these Piedmont rocks has produced 
soils with chemical and physical properties that are very amenable to 
the viticulture industry. These soils and the climate of the proposed 
Yadkin Valley viticultural area cover a spectrum that is equal to most 
vineyards of Europe and California.
    After the Yadkin River's origin and descent from mountain springs 
in the Blowing Rock, North Carolina area, it encounters a major 
structural feature known as the Brevard Shear Zone (fault system), 
which also defines the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the area, paralleled by 
the river. At the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the Yadkin River 
turns and flows northeastward under the structural control of this 
shear zone for a distance of approximately 50 miles before bending to 
the east between the northeast end of the Brushy Mountains and Pilot 
Mountain. At the Surry, Yadkin, and Forsyth County corner, the Yadkin 
turns southward and later becomes the Pee Dee River at High Rock Lake, 
about six miles northwest of Salisbury, North Carolina.

What Boundary Evidence Has Been Provided?

    Matthew Mayberry, Chairman/President, River Ridge Land Company, 
Inc. provided the boundary description.
    The area of the proposed Yadkin Valley viticultural area covers 
approximately 1,924 square miles or 1,231,000 acres in Wilkes, Surry, 
Yadkin and parts of Stokes, Forsyth, and Davie counties. The subject 
area is identified on two 1:250,000 scale USGS maps:
    (1) Winston-Salem, N.C.; VA., Tenn. 1953 Limited Revision 1962 and,
    (2) Charlotte, North Carolina; South Carolina 1953 Revised 1974.
    The proposed Yadkin Valley viticultural area boundary is defined as 
a series of compass bearings and corresponding distances determined 
with a protractor and a 1:250,000 scale, based on and read from the 
U.S.G.S. maps. Primarily, the proposed viticultural area is defined by 
county lines. In cases where directions change, where county lines are 
too irregular to measure, a ``trend direction bearing'' with straight-
line miles is reported. The beginning point is defined as a point 3.6 
miles west of the northeast corner of Surry County on the Surry County 
and North Carolina/Virginia state line at the crest of Slate Mountain.
    The boundaries of the proposed Yadkin Valley viticultural area are 
more particularly discussed in proposed Sec. 9.174 (c) of the 
regulations, as identified below in this Notice.

Regulatory Analyses and Notices

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

    This regulation is not a significant regulatory action as defined 
in Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this proposed rule is not 
subject to the analysis required by this Executive Order.

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

    The proposed regulations will not have 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. We believe that the 
establishment of viticultural areas allows wineries to more accurately 
describe the origin of their wines to consumers, and helps consumers 
identify various wines. 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.

Does the Paperwork Reduction Act Apply to This Proposed Rule?

    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 
proposed rule because no requirement to collect information is 
proposed.

Public Participation

Who May Comment on This Notice?

    ATF solicits comments from all interested parties. 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. 
Assurance of consideration can only be given to comments received on or 
before the closing date.
    Copies of this petition, the proposed regulations, the appropriate 
maps, and any written comments received may be viewed by appointment at 
the ATF Reference Library, Office of Liaison and

[[Page 5760]]

Public Information, Room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20226; telephone (202) 927-7890. To receive copies of 
comments, you must file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. 
For instructions on filing a FOIA request, call (202) 927-8480 or refer 
to the internet address: http://www.atf.treas.gov/about/foia/foia.htm.
    For the convenience of the public, ATF will post comments received 
in response to this notice on the ATF web site. All comments posted on 
our web site will show the name of the commenter. Street addresses, 
telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses are removed. We may also omit 
voluminous attachments or material that we do not consider suitable for 
posting. In all cases, the full comment will be available in the 
library or through FOIA requests, as noted above. To access online 
copies of the comments on this rulemaking, visit http://www.atf.treas.gov/, and select ``Regulations,'' then ``Proposed rules'' 
and this notice. Click on the ``view comments'' button.

Will ATF Keep My Comments Confidential?

    ATF will not recognize any comment as confidential. All comments 
and materials will be disclosed to the public. If you consider your 
material to be confidential or inappropriate for disclosure to the 
public, do not include it in the comments. We will also disclose the 
name of any person who submits a comment.
    During the comment period, any person may request an opportunity to 
present oral testimony at a public hearing by writing the Director 
within the 60-day comment period. However, the Director reserves the 
right to determine whether a public hearing will be held.

How Do I Send Facsimile Comments?

    To submit facsimile transmissions, use (202) 927-8525. Facsimile 
comments must:
     Be legible.
     Reference this notice number.
     Be on paper 8\1/2\  x  11'' in size.
     Contain a legible written signature.
     Not be 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?

    To submit comments by e-mail, send the comments to: 
[email protected]. 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 no more than three pages, 8\1/
2\  x  11'' in size.
    We will not acknowledge receipt of e-mail. E-mail comments are 
treated as originals.

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

    There is a comment form provided with the online copy of the 
proposed rule on the ATF internet web site at: http://www.atf.treas.gov.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document is Tim DeVanney, 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. 9.174 to read as 
follows:
* * * * *


Sec. 9.174  Yadkin Valley.

    (a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this 
section is ``Yadkin Valley''.
    (b) Approved Maps. The appropriate maps for determining the 
boundaries of the Yadkin Valley viticultural area are two United States 
Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) topographic maps, scale 1:250,000:
    (1) Winston-Salem, N.C.; VA; Tenn. (1953, Limited Revision 1962), 
and,
    (2) Charlotte, North Carolina; South Carolina. (1953, Revised 
1974).
    (c) Boundaries. The Yadkin Valley viticultural area is located in 
the state of North Carolina within Wilkes, Surry, Yadkin and part of 
Stokes, Forsyth, and Davie Counties. The boundaries are as follows:
    (1) Beginning with the Winston-Salem, N.C.; VA; Tenn. map, the 
beginning point is 3.6 miles west of the northeast corner of Surry 
County on the Surry County and North Carolina/Virginia state line. From 
the beginning point, proceed south 25.5 degrees east, this boundary 
line follows the Yadkin River Basin boundary line, approximately 8.0 
miles, to the intersection of the Surry/Stokes County line;
    (2) Then follow the Surry/Stokes County line, approximately 1.5 
miles south;
    (3) Then bear south 57 degrees east, for approximately 7.8 miles, 
following the Yadkin River Basin boundary line to Sauratown Mountain 
peak (at the 2,465 foot contour line);
    (4) Then bear northeastward along the Yadkin River Basin boundary 
line to the Gap (between Sauratown and Hanging Rock Mountains), at the 
State Route 66/Yadkin River Basin boundary line intersection;
    (5) Then bear south, following State Route 66 to the U.S. Route 52/
State Route 66 intersection;
    (6) Then follow U.S. Route 52 south to Rural Hall, N.C., to the 
intersection of the Southern Railway track and U.S. Route 52;
    (7) Then bear south, following the Southern Railway track to where 
it intersects with U.S. Route 158;
    (8) Then bear southwest, following U.S. Route 158 (onto the 
Charlotte, North Carolina; South Carolina quadrangle map) to the 
intersection of U.S. Highway 601/U.S. Route 158 at Mocksville, N.C.;
    (9) Then bear northwest, following U.S. Highway 601 (onto the 
Winston-Salem, N.C.; VA; Tenn. quadrangle map) to the Davie/Yadkin 
County line;
    (10) Then continue west along the Yadkin/Davie County line, to the 
Yadkin/Davie/Iredell County line intersection, to the Yadkin/Iredell 
County line, to the Yadkin/Iredell/Wilkes County line intersection, to 
the Iredell/Wilkes County line, to the Iredell/Wilkes/Alexander County 
line intersection, to the Wilkes/Alexander County line, to the Wilkes/
Alexander/Caldwell County line intersection;
    (11) Then bear northwesterly along the Wilkes/Caldwell County line, 
to the Wilkes/Caldwell/Watauga County intersection;
    (12) Then bear northeasterly then northwesterly along the Wilkes/
Watauga County line to the intersection of the Wilkes/Watauga/Ashe 
County lines;
    (13) Then alternately bear northeasterly then southeasterly along 
the Wilkes/Ashe County line, to the Wilkes/Ashe/Alleghany County line 
intersection;
    (14) Then alternately bear northeasterly then southeasterly along 
the Wilkes/Alleghany County line to the

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Wilkes/Alleghany/Surry County line intersection;
    (15) Then alternately bear northeasterly then northwesterly and 
then northeasterly again, along Alleghany/Surry County line to the 
intersection of the Alleghany/Surry/Grayson County lines at the North 
Carolina/Virginia border;
    (16) Then bear east along the Surry/Grayson County line to the 
Surry/Grayson/Carroll County line intersection;
    (17) Then continue east along the Surry/Carroll County line through 
the intersection of the Surry/Carroll/Patrick County lines following 
the Surry/Patrick County/North Carolina/Virginia state line to the 
beginning point, 3.6 miles west of the northeast corner of Surry 
County.

    Dated: January 23, 2002.
Bradley A. Buckles,
Director.
[FR Doc. 02-2956 Filed 2-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P