Proposed Revisions to Wine Labeling and Recordkeeping Requirements; Comment Period Reopening

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is reopening the comment period for Notice No. 160, Proposed Revisions to Wine Labeling and Recordkeeping Requirements, a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2016. In Notice No. 160, TTB proposed to amend its labeling and recordkeeping regulations in 27 CFR part 24 to provide that any standard grape wine containing 7 percent or more alcohol by volume that is covered by a certificate of exemption from label approval may be labeled with a varietal (grape type) designation, a type designation of varietal significance, a vintage date, or an appellation of origin only if the wine is labeled in compliance with the standards set forth in the appropriate sections of 27 CFR part 4 for that label information. TTB also proposed to amend its part 4 wine labeling regulations to include a reference to the new part 24 requirement. TTB is reopening the comment period in response to requests from two wine industry trade associations. In addition, this reopening of the comment period solicits comments from the public on issues that were raised in comments received in response to Notice No. 160.