| A new law signed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger restricts the use of the word ' Sonoma' to wines made with less than 75% Sonoma grapes. Like the comparable Napa legislation, the law - SB 1380 - was designed to close loopholes in federal brand name legislation dating back1986, reports Decanter.com.
That federal law banned labels bearing brand names which implied the wine was made from grapes grown in the area suggested by the brand, unless at least 75% of the grapes used to make the wine were grown in that area. But a 'grandfather clause' exempted an otherwise misleading geographic brand name, if the name was in use before 1986.
Previous to the new law, brands established before July 1986 were not required to use 75% or more Sonoma grapes in producing the wine. The county has more than 26,000 hectares of wine grapes and more than 250 wineries.
For the complete story, go to http://www.decanter.com
|
