How are wine labeling regulations different in Oregon?
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Dear Dr. Vinny,
I’m confused by Oregon’s wine labeling regulations. Would you explain them?
—Tamara, Medford, Ore.
Dear Tamara,
The labeling laws for wines from Oregon are even stricter than the federal guidelines, which are set by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
Federal rules require that if a wine label lists a county, state or country as the wine’s place of origin, at least 75 percent of the wine must be produced from grapes grown there. That number goes up to at least 85 percent if the label lists a specific American Viticultural Area (AVA).
In Oregon, there are some additional rules. If the label indicates “Oregon” or an Oregon county or AVA, 100 percent of the grapes must be from Oregon, and 95 percent have to come from the specified appellation.
When it comes to labeling grape names, the stricter rules continue. For other states, only 75 percent of the grapes used to make a wine must be of the declared variety. That means a California Pinot Noir might contain up to 25 percent of another variety, such as Zinfandel.
But in Oregon, 90 percent or more has to come from the named variety. This rule applies to the state’s signature Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and many other varieties.
There are 18 grape varieties exempted from Oregon’s 90 percent minimum, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. These varieties follow the 75 percent federal rule. The thinking is that the rule will help protect the quality of the state’s premium wines while allowing for traditional styles of blended wines.
—Dr. Vinny
