American wine labels
In the United States, labeling and other aspects of the sale of wine are regulated by the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Vintage
If the label shows a vintage year, 95% of the wine must have come from grapes
harvested in that year, and the label must give an appellation of origin other
than the name of a country.
Varietal name
Since 1983, for a bottle of American wine to be labeled with the name of a varietal
(a variety of grape, such as “cabernet” or “riesling”), 75% of the wine must have come from that variety of grape.
(27CFR4.34(a)) In 1996, the rule was revised to
- limit varietal names to a list of names of grape varieties approved by the Bureau
- require that varietal names only be used in conjunction with an appellation of origin
- require that the 75% be grown within the appellation of origin area.
There are some exceptions to these rules:
- Wine made from vitus labrusca grapes (most wine is made from vitus
vinifera varieties) need only contain a minimum of 51% of the variety,
but the wine must have a label stating that it “contains not less than
51%” of the named varietal.
- A winemaker may ask the Bureau to determine that a wine is “too strongly
flavored” if it contains 75% of a particular variety. If the
Bureau so determines, the wine need only
contain a maximum of 51% of the varietal named on the label, but the wine must
have a label stating that it “contains not less than 51%” of the
named varietal.
- The winemaker may choose to list on the label all the grape varieties used
to make the wine, with the actual percentage of each (with a tolerance of
±2%). If the label has a multicounty appellation of origin, the label
must show the percentage from each variety from each county. If the
appellation is multistate, the label must show the percentage from each
variety from each state.
The listing of approved varietal names reflected a great deal of research
into the origins and identity of various varieties of grapevine, newly
invigorated by the development of new laboratory tests (e.g., DNA testing). The listing had a major
effect. A few examples:
- For years vineyards in California had grown a grape they called
“Pinot blanc” and made a wine with that varietal name. But
wine made from Pinot blanc vines imported from Europe was quite
different. It turned out that the vines the growers had been calling
Pinot blanc were actually Melon de Bourgogne. Vintners wondered
whether consumers would buy a wine that had to be called “Melon”
or “Melon de Bourgogne.”
- Johannisburg Riesling is now simply Riesling. Grey Riesling is Trousseau
Gris.
Type designations
Not all wines are varietals. The Bureau also recognizes generic names
(like “Vermouth” and “Sake”) and semi-generic names, such as
“Burgundy,” “Claret,” “Rhine Wine” and
“Sherry”. If a name carries some geographic connotation, the
wine label must state an appellation of origin, so that the buyer knows his
champagne comes from California and his Rhine Wine from New York.
For American wines, the Bureau authorizes the following special type designations,
to be used only in
conjunction with an appellation of origin.
- Muscadine, at least 75% of volume from Muscadinia rotundifolia.
- Muscatel, at least 75% of volume from any Muscat grape, and deriving
"its predominant taste, aroma [and] characteristics" from that
variety.
- Muscat or Moscate, at least 75% of volume from any Muscat grape.
- Scuppernong, at least 75% of volume from bronze Muscadinia rotundifolia
grapes.
- Gamay Beaujolais, at least 75% of volume from some combination of
Pinot Noir and Valdiguié grapes. After 1 January 1999 the label
has to give the names of these two varieties in order of predominance. After 8 April 2007 the designation Gamay
Beaujolais may no longer be used.
Appellation of origin
The Bureau recognizes six types of American appellation of origin:
- A country, i.e. American wine. Note that a wine with such an appellation of origin cannot
legally be labeled with a vintage year.
- A state, such as California.
- Two or three contiguous states.
- A county. The word “county” must appear on the label in
the same typeface and type size as the name of the county.
- Two or three contiguous counties.
- A viticulture area. American viticulture areas (AVA’s) are wine
growing areas approved by the Bureau, and are the American appellation of
origin that most closely resembles European appellations of origin. In theory,
they indicate a common soil and microclimate. The AVA's are listed below.
American Viticulture Areas (AVA’s)
New areas are constantly being proposed; the list is updated annually (see
the Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 27, Part 9. The actual boundaries
of the areas can be found at www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/27cfr9_05.html
The AVA’s are listed below approximately in the order of their establishment.
- Augusta.
- Napa Valley.
- Chalone.
- San Pasqual Valley.
- Guenoc Valley.
- Lime Kiln Valley.
- Santa Maria Valley.
- Sonoma Valley.
- North Coast.
- Santa Cruz Mountains.
- Los Carneros.
- Fennville.
- Finger Lakes.
- Edna Valley.
- McDowell Valley.
- California Shenandoah Valley.
- Cienega Valley.
- Paicines.
- Leelanau Peninsula.
- Lancaster Valley.
- Cole Ranch.
- Rocky Knob.
- Solano County Green Valley.
- Suisun Valley.
- Livermore Valley.
- Hudson River Region.
- Monticello.
- Central Delaware Valley.
- Temecula.
- Isle St. George.
- Chalk Hill.
- Alexander Valley.
- Santa Ynez Valley.
- Bell Mountain.
- San Lucas.
- Sonoma County Green Valley.
- Carmel Valley.
- Arroyo Seco.
- Shenandoah Valley.
- El Dorado.
- Loramie Creek.
- Linganore.
- Dry Creek Valley.
- North Fork of Roanoke.
- Russian River Valley.
- Catoctin.
- Merritt Island.
- Yakima Valley.
- Northern Sonoma.
- Hermann.
- Southeastern New England.
- Martha’s Vineyard.
- Columbia Valley.
- Central Coast.
- Knights Valley.
- Altus.
- Ohio River Valley.
- Lake Michigan Shore.
- York Mountain.
- Fiddletown.
- Potter Valley.
- Lake Erie.
- Paso Robles.
- Willow Creek.
- Anderson Valley.
- Grand River Valley.
- Pacheco Pass.
- Umpqua Valley.
- Willamette Valley.
- Walla Walla Valley.
- Madera.
- Mendocino.
- Howell Mountain.
- Clarksburg.
- Mississippi Delta.
- Sonoita.
- Monterey.
- Clear Lake.
- Mesilla Valley.
- The Hamptons, Long Island.
- Sonoma Mountain.
- Mimbres Valley.
- South Coast.
- Cumberland Valley.
- North Yuba.
- Lodi.
- Ozark Mountain.
- Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace.
- San Benito.
- Kanawha River Valley.
- Arkansas Mountain.
- North Fork of Long Island.
- Old Mission Peninsula.
- Ozark Highlands.
- Sonoma Coast.
- Stags Leap District.
- Ben Lomond Mountain.
- Middle Rio Grande Valley.
- Sierra Foothills.
- Warren Hills.
- Western Connecticut Highlands.
- Mt. Veeder.
- Wild Horse Valley.
- Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country.
- Santa Clara Valley.
- Cayuga Lake.
- Arroyo Grande Valley.
- San Ysidro District.
- Mt. Harlan.
- Rogue Valley.
- Rutherford.
- Oakville.
- Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
- Texas Hill Country.
- Grand Valley.
- Benmore Valley.
- Santa Lucia Highlands.
- Atlas Peak.
- Escondido Valley.
- Spring Mountain District.
- Texas High Plains.
- Dunnigan Hills.
- Lake Wisconsin.
- Hames Valley.
- Seiad Valley.
- St. Helena.
- Cucamonga Valley.
- Puget Sound.
- Malibu-Newton Canyon.
- Redwood Valley.
- Chiles Valley.
- Texas Davis Mountains.
- Diablo Grande.
- San Francisco Bay.
- Mendocino Ridge.
- Yorkville Highlands.
- Yountville.
- Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.
- Santa Rita Hills.
- Salado Creek.
- River Junction.
- Applegate Valley.
- Diamond Mountain District.
- Red Mountain
- Fair Play.
- Red Hills Lake County.
- Long Island.
- San Bernabe.
- West Elks.
- Rockpile.
- Yadkin Valley.
- Capay Valley.
- Columbia Gorge.
- Southern Oregon.
- Dundee Hills.
- McMinnville.
- Yamhill-Carlton District.
- Trinity Lakes.
- Horse Heaven Hills
Varietal names approved by the Bureau of ATF
- Aglianico
- Agwam
- Albariño (Alvarinho)
- Albemarle
- Aleatico
- Alicante Bouschet
- Aligoté
- Alvarelhão
- Alvarinho (Albariño)
- Arneis
- Aurore
- Bacchus
- Baco blanc
- Baco noir
- Barbera
- Beacon
- Beclan
- Bellandais
- Beta
- Black Corinth
- Black Pearl
- Blanc Du Bois
- Blue Eye
- Bonarda
- Bountiful
- Burdin 4672
- Burdin 5201
- Burdin 11042
- Burgaw
- Burger
- Cabernet franc
- Cabernet Pfeffer
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Calzin
- Campbell Early (Island Belle)
- Canada Muscat
- Captivator
- Carignane
- Carlos
- Carmenere
- Carmine
- Carnelian
- Cascade
- Castel 19-637
- Catawba
- Cayuga White
- Centurion
- Chambourcin
- Chancellor
- Charbono
- Chardonel
- Chardonnay
- Chasselas doré
- Chelois
- Chenin blanc
- Chief
- Chowan
- Cinsaut (Black Malvoisie)
- Clairette blanche
- Clinton
- Colombard (French Colombard)
- Colobel
- Cortese
- Corvina
- Concord
- Conquistador
- Couderc noir
- Cowart
- Creek
- Cynthiana (Norton)
- Dearing
- De Chaunac
- Delaware
- Diamond
- Dixie
- Dolcetto
- Doreen
- Dulcet
- Durif
- Dutchess
- Early Burgundy
- Early Muscat
- Edelweiss
- Eden
- Ehrenfelser
- Ellen Scott
- Elvira
- Emerald Riesling
- Fiano
- Feher Szagos
- Ferñao Pires
- Fern Munson
- Flame Tokay
- Flora
- Florental
- Folle blanche
- Fredonia
- Freisa
- Fry
- Furmint
- Gamay noir
- Garronet
- Gewürztraminer
- Gladwin 113
- Glennel
- Gold
- Golden Isles
- Golden Muscat
- Grand Noir
- Green Hungarian
- Grenache
- Grignolino
- Grillo
- Gros Verdot
- Helena
- Herbemont
- Higgins
- Horizon
- Hunt
- Iona
- Isabella
- Ives
- James
- Jewell
- Joannes Seyve 12-428
- Joannes Seyve 23-416
- Kerner
- Kay Gray
- Kleinberger
- LaCrosse
- Lake Emerald
- Lambrusco
- Landal
- Landot noir
- Lenoir
- Léon Millot
- Limberger (Lemberger)
- Madeline Angevine
- Magnolia
- Magoon
- Malbec
- Malvasia bianca
- Maréchal Foch
- Marsanne
- Melody
- Melon de Bourgogne (Melon)
- Merlot
- Meunier (Pinot Meunier)
- Mish
- Mission
- Missouri Riesling
- Mondeuse (Refosco)
- Montefiore
- Moore Early
- Morio-Muskat
- Mourvèdre (Mataro)
- Müller-Thurgau
- Münch
- Muscadelle
- Muscat blanc (Muscat Canelli)
- Muscat du Moulin
- Muscat Hamburg (Black Muscat)
- Muscat of Alexandria
- Muscat Ottonel
- Naples
- Nebbiolo
- Negrette
- New York Muscat
- Niagara
- Noah
- Noble
- Norton (Cynthiana)
- Ontario
- Orange Muscat
- Palomino
- Pamlico
- Pedro Ximenes
- Petit Verdot
- Petite Sirah
- Peverella
- Pinotage
- Pinot blanc
- Pinot gris (Pinot Grigio)
- Pinot noir
- Precoce de Malingre
- Pride
- Primitivo
- Rayon d'Or
- Ravat 34
- Ravat 51 (Vignoles)
- Ravat noir
- Redgate
- Regale
- Riesling (White Riesling)
- Rkatziteli (Rkatsiteli)
- Roanoke
- Rosette
- Roucaneuf
- Rougeon
- Roussanne
- Royalty
- Rubired
- Ruby Cabernet
- St. Croix
- Saint Macaire
- Salem
- Salvador
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon blanc (Fumé blanc)
- Scarlet
- Scheurebe
- Sémillon
- Sereksiya
- Seyval (Seyval blanc)
- Siegerrebe
- Siegfried
- Southland
- Souzão
- Steuben
- Stover
- Sugargate
- Sultanina (Thompson Seedless)
- Summit
- Suwannee
- Sylvaner
- Symphony
- Syrah (Shiraz)
- Swenson Red
- Tarheel
- Taylor
- Tempranillo (Valdepeñas)
- Teroldego
- Thomas
- Thompson Seedless (Sultanina)
- Tinta Madeira
- Tinto cão
- Tocai Friulano
- Topsail
- Touriga
- Traminer
- Trousseau
- Trousseau gris
- Ugni blanc (Trebbiano)
- Valdiguié
- Valerien
- Van Buren
- Veeblanc
- Veltliner
- Ventura
- Verdelet
- Verdelho
- Vidal blanc
- Villard blanc
- Villard noir
- Vincent
- Viognier
- Vivant
- Welsch Rizling
- Watergate
- Welder
- Yuga
- Zinfandel
Alternative varietal names permitted for temporary use
During a transition period, regulations permit the temporary use of certain
traditional varietal names that ultimately will be
banned.
Alternative Names of Varietals
Permitted on Wine Bottled before
1 January 1997
| Alternative Name |
Prime Name |
| Baco 1 |
Baco noir |
| Baco 22A |
Baco blanc |
| Bastardo |
Trousseau |
| Black Spanish |
Lenoir |
| Burdin 7705 |
Florental |
| Cayuga |
Cayuga White |
| Chancellor noir |
Chancellor |
| Chasselas |
Chasselas doré |
| Chevrier |
Semillon |
| Chelois noir |
Chelois |
| Couderc 71-20 |
Couderc noir |
| Couderc 299-35 |
Muscat du Moulin |
| Foch |
Maréchal Foch |
| Franken Riesling |
Sylvaner |
| Gutedel |
Chasselas doré |
| Ives Seedling |
Ives |
| Jacquez |
Lenoir |
| Joannes Seyve 26-205 |
Chambourcin |
| Landot 244 |
Landal |
| Landot 4511 |
Landot noir |
| Millot |
Leon Millot |
| Moore's Diamond |
Diamond |
| Norton Seedling |
Norton |
| Pfeffer Cabernet |
Cabernet Pfeffer |
| Pineau de la Loire |
Chenin blanc |
| Pinot Chardonnay |
Chardonnay |
| Ravat 262 |
Ravat noir |
| Rulander |
Pinot gris |
| Seibel 128 |
Salvador |
| Seibel 1000 |
Rosette |
| Seibel 4986 |
Rayon d'Or |
| Seibel 5279 |
Aurore |
| Seibel 5898 |
Rougeon |
| Seibel 7053 |
Chancellor |
| Seibel 8357 |
Colobel |
| Seibel 9110 |
Verdelet |
| Seibel 9549 |
De Chaunac |
| Seibel 10878 |
Chelois |
| Seibel 13053 |
Cascade |
| Seibel 14596 |
Bellandais |
| Seyve-Villard 5-276 |
Seyval |
| Seyve-Villard 12-309 |
Roucaneuf |
| Seyve-Villard 12-375 |
Villard blanc |
| Seyve-Villard 18-283 |
Garronet |
| Seyve-Villard 18-315 |
Villard noir |
| Seyve-Villard 23-410 |
Valerien |
| Sweetwater |
Chasselas doré |
| Verdelet blanc |
Verdelet |
| Vidal 256 |
Vidal blanc |
| Virginia Seedling |
Norton |
| Walschriesling |
Welsch Rizling |
| Welschriesling |
Welsch Rizling |
Alternative Names of Varietals
Permitted on Wine Bottled before
1 January 1999
| Alternative Name |
Prime Name |
| Cabernet | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Grey Riesling | Trousseau gris |
| Johannisberg Riesling | Riesling |
| Muscat Frontignan | Muscat blanc |
| Muscat Pantelleria | Muscat of Alexandria |
| Napa Gamay | Valdiquié |
| Pinot Saint George | Negrette |
| Sauvignon vert | Muscadelle |
Copyright © 2003-2005 Sizes, Inc. All rights reserved.
Last revised: 30 July 2005.
