State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

HCR2014: American viticultural area; designation

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Thorpe, LD 6

BILL STATUS: Land & Agriculture

                               

 

Overview

Encourages efforts by the Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) to achieve American Viticultural Area (AVA) designation for Verde Valley and Yavapai County. 

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteHistory

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) within the United States Department of the Treasury has the authority to designate unique grape-growing regions within the United States as AVAs. This designation means that a specific quality, reputation or other characteristic can be distinguished in wine made from grapes grown within the geographic area (ttb.gov)

To achieve AVA designation, a group must submit a petition to TTB that includes various information relating to the boundaries and distinguishing features of the area such as climate, geology, soils, physical features and elevation. After the petition is submitted, TTB will conduct a review to determine if it is a perfected petition. If a petition is perfected, TTB will decide whether to proceed with the rulemaking process to adopt the proposed AVA designation (27 C.F.R. § 9).

Sonoita and Willcox are the only two AVA designated areas currently in Arizona. In August 2017, a petition for Verde Valley to be designated as an AVA was perfected but has not been submitted for rulemaking.

Provisions

1.       States the Legislature supports and encourages efforts by the ADA to achieve AVA designation for wine grape-growing for Verde Valley and Yavapai County. 

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5.       Fifty-fourth Legislature                       HCR 2014

6.       First Regular Session                            Version 1: Land & Agriculture

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