Federal Government Shutdown Impacts Wineries
Wineries all over these United States of America are being impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown. Permitting of wineries along with wine label approvals are processed by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. (TTB). Designations of American Viticultural Areas (AVA) are established by the TTB also based on vineyard/agricultural requests. Each winery before beginning operations must have its winery permits approved by both State and Federal Governments. Since the Federal Government shut down at the beginning of October, no winery permits have been approved and therefore no winery inspections have been made which is required in the permitting of such facilities. Based on historical data, it is estimated that more than ten winery permits in Texas are being held up. There are probably over one hundred winery permits being delayed throughout our country. Permitting of wineries is a cumbersome task and requires a site visit. Once the Federal Government re-opens, the backlog will cause longer permitting times.
Every wine label must also be approved by the TTB. Wines are ready to be bottled, but there are probably hundreds of wine labels that are backlogged by the Federal Government shutdown. Once the TTB begins its operations again, the backlog will cause significant delays in the one to two week approval process of the TTB for wine labels. Many wineries have special releases for wines during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. This year looks bleak since these wineries will not be getting their labels approved in a timely fashion, then printed, then affixed to bottles, and then distributed. The wine industry in Texas and all over the Nation is being negatively impacted as a result of this Federal Government shutdown.
Texas is proposing to add six new American Viticultural Areas to the eight that Texas currently has in place. This will add distinction, prestige, and recognition to the Texas grape-growing industry. These new AVA’s include:
• Llano Uplift – The Llano Uplift is proposed to cover 1.3 million acres near the center of the Texas Hill Country AVA. This area is predominantly granite and is surrounded by limestone outcroppings in the Texas Hill Country AVA.
• Hickory Sands – This proposed AVA is located in the proposed Llano Uplift AVA within the Texas Hill Country AVA. This area contains elevations above 1500 above sea level with decomposed granite and sandstone gravels.
• Hidden Waters – This proposed AVA is located in the Chihuahuan Desert, east of El Paso. This arid region has an “underground river” with hot days and cool nights.
• Pedernales River Basin – Located along the Pedernales River in the Texas Hill Country AVA.
• Brazos River – This proposed AVA is located in North-Central Texas in the area of the Cross Timber Wine Trail.
• Rio Grande – This South Texas AVA grows a hybrid grape called Blanc du Bois which is a fantastic Summer Sipper.
Texas Wine Month Ends Today
The month of October has been designated by the Texas Department of Agriculture as Texas Wine Month. The grapes have been harvested and then crushed to make wine. These wines are now aging in wine cellars throughout Texas with the Texas grape crop labeled as a high quality crop. I predict there will be many more Double Gold and Gold Medals earned by Texas wines in international wine competitions. The Texas wine industry continues to grow, but will surge once the Federal Government reopens with TTB processing winery permits and approving
Texas wine labels.
Start a new Halloween tradition by going house to house with an empty wine glass in hope of getting wine, preferably Texas wine. This is a great way to end Texas wine month!