BIG NEWS FOR TENNESSEE WINE – PROPOSED UPPER CUMBERLAND VITICULTURAL AREA

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On Tuesday, August 29th, the The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published the Proposed Establishment of the Upper Cumberland Viticultural Area request for comment on the Federal Register – Daily Journal of the United States Government.


The full publication can be found here:  Federal Register :: Proposed Establishment of the Upper Cumberland Viticultural Area

As detailed in the publication, the TTB proposes establishing the approximately 2,186,689 acre “Upper Cumberland” viticultural area in Middle Tennessee. The TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.

“The TTB received a petition from the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, proposing the establishment of the “Upper Cumberland” AVA. The proposed Upper Cumberland AVA covers all or portions of the following eight counties in Middle Tennessee: Cumberland, Fentress, Macon, Putnam, Overton, Smith, Warren, and White. The proposed AVA contains approximately 2,186,689 acres, with 55 vineyards totaling over 71 acres spread throughout the proposed AVA. There are also nine wineries within the proposed AVA. According to the petition, there is at least one vineyard in each of the counties within the proposed AVA, demonstrating that commercial viticulture and winemaking take place throughout the entire proposed AVA.” (Source:  Federal Register :: Proposed Establishment of the Upper Cumberland Viticultural Area)

Comments must be received by October 30, 2023.

Last modified: September 1, 2023