TTB Approves Lake Chelan AVA, Ditches Paso Robles Westside

(news release)

Washington, D.C. – The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published two notices in the Federal Register establishing the Lake Chelan viticultural area and withdrawing its proposal to establish the Paso Robles Westside viticultural area. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.

Treasury Decision TTB-76 establishes the 24,040 –acre “Lake Chelan”
American viticultural area in Chelan County, Washington. It lies within the larger Columbia Valley viticultural area in north-central Washington.

Treasury Decision TTB-76 becomes effective May 29, 2009.

In a separate notice, TTB announced the withdrawal of its proposal to establish the Paso Robles Westside viticultural area within the existing Paso Robles viticultural area in California. This action was taken because, given the conflicting information provided, TTB could not conclude that a delimited grape-growing region exists that is recognized by the name Paso Robles Westside, or that the area described in Notice No. 71 is distinguishable by geographical features.

Notice No. 71 is withdrawn as of April 30, 2009.