By Michael Kaiser On Thursday, January 20 the TTB released updated rules on the approval process of American Viticultural Areas. Essentially the process for approval is the same. The applicants will still need to file a petition with the TTB with significant evidence to support the establishment of a new AVA. The TTB issues a … Read more

Today the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would add 57 new grape names to the approved list of grape variety names. TTB is seeking comments on the grape names proposed to insure accuracy. They would like to hear from wineries that may want to use the … Read more

VinQuest™ 2011 – the U.S. wine industry’s annual survey of consumer direct sales trends at the country’s 3500+ bonded wineries. Qualified representatives of any U.S. winery may participate in this survey by clicking here. Your participation will benefit the entire wine industry. In return for your time, all winery participants who complete this survey will … Read more

We are headed to Grand Junction, Colorado next week for VinCO 2011 : Wine Business, Enology, Viticulture, & Horticulture. Cary Greene and Michael Kaiser are featured speakers at the event and WineAmerica Insurance will have a booth at the trade show. http://www.caveonline.org/content/VinCO-2011

We’re in the season for sending in quarterly and annual Reports of Wine Premises Operations (TTB form 5120.17) and TTB Excise Tax Returns (TTB form 5000.24) again, so we thought it would be a good time for a brush up on TTB recordkeeping and reporting requirements. As an arm of the Treasury Department, TTB functions … Read more