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Government Shutdown Stands To Create Economic Losses for Pennsylvania Wineries

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For those of us in the wine industry, the government shutdown has brought the wine approval business to a halt. Federal approval for new wineries and/or wine labels is handled by the Federal Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). For purposes of the government shutdown, the TTB has been deemed non-essential. The Federal Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is not processing COLAs, new wine application permits, label approvals, or importation of wine in bond. Approximately 800,000 of the two million U.S. federal employees have been furloughed.

The suspension of the TTB’s regulatory functions means all reviews of alcohol beverage label permits, formulas are suspended until such time funding is reinstated. This means that many Pennsylvania wineries will not be able to sell their wines until the shutdown ends and their applications can be processed. The legal documents required to bottle and sell the wine has come to a halt, hence having severe financial impact to many of the State’s wineries.

The TTB has posted an Appropriations Lapse Notice. Once government services resume, a horrendous backlog for application processing is anticipated as we are now approaching Day 14 of the shutdown.

Pennsylvania’s Winery Neighbors In The Garden State Of New Jersey Have A New AVA Designation.

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Pennsylvania’s neighbors in the Garden State of New Jersey continue to emerge as east coast regional wine producers with its recent American Viticulture Area approved by the US Department of the Treasury’s Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau. The South East geographic portion of the state has been designated The Outer Coastal Plain AVA.

This is exciting news for the state’s emerging wine industry. I look forward to including more posts on New Jersey’s winery/hospitality industry and as a member of both Pennsylvania and New Jersey state bars, to address their future legal needs as well.

Meanwhile, for more on this news read Dr. Lawrence Cola’s: New East Coast AVA Established

Pennsylvania’s Galen Glen Winery Gets Big Kudos From Global Wine Reviewer

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There aren’t many Pennsylvania Wines if any that grab the attention of the famous global wine reviewer himself, Mr. Robert Parker. Happily, I wanted to give a very special shout out and big “congratulations” to my winemaker friends on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, Sarah and Galen Troxell at Galen Glen Winery for it’s notable Gruner Veltliner and Zweigeit Wines recently reviewed by Mr. Robert Parker. There is a lot to celebrate in the tasting room at Galen Glen Winery. To learn more about this great review read here: Robert Parker Scores Gruner Veltliner

Do You Know About HR 5034?

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Do you know about HR 5034? Learn more on how to “Free The Grapes”.

What Flags For Safety Does Your Wine Trail Association Wave?

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A couple of months ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Liz Stamp, cmsimg_1218058036bustourowner of Lakewood Vineyards, located in the Finger Lake Region of New York. Liz shared how the wineries in her area had joined together to safely handle guests participating in bus and limousine wine tours. Their goal was to minimize inebriation and inappropriate conduct amongst the tour groups. The Association’s wineries established a Safe Group Wine Tours Program wherein sponsors of the local bus and limousine wine tours are handed a Yellow Card (warning) or Red Card (access denied for the day ) if the winery believes the tour group leader is transporting unruly guests that may have had too much to drink. A Code of Conduct for Group Wine Tasting was created, identifying behaviors that would cause winery staff to raise a flag and refuse service to individuals or groups. These identified behaviors include drunkenness, damage to winery property, theft, rude language, exposure, threatening or aggressive behavior.

The wineries distribute the cards to the tour sponsor and document by way of an incident report, detailed information on the group’s behavior. The winery owner then calls ahead to the next winery on the trail to notify the tasting room staff that the flagged group may be headed their way. This allows the next winery owner on the trail the opportunity to decide whether or not to serve the group.

The Wine Trail Association has found the program to be well received by the local tour group leaders, Too, they have discovered that the practice has been found to be effective in curtailing poor behavior.

With numerous weddings, bachelorette parties and other local events planned throughout the year, this program has been found to be a useful tool in encouraging safe and responsible alcohol consumption.

If your winery participates in a wine trail association, perhaps your association may also want to consider safe measures to protect its establishments and minimize liability as your guests proceed down the wine trail. For more information, on the Wine Trails of the Finger Lakes Region, visit www.groupwinetours.com