BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 394
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Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
394 (Mark Stone) - As Amended March 19, 2015
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|Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|21 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill, on or after January 1, 2019, requires any wine
bottled and labeled with an American Viticultural Area (AVA),
established pursuant to federal law, that is located entirely
within Monterey County to include the designation "Monterey
County" on the label, unless the federal AVA is "Monterey."
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor and absorbable enforcement costs to the Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control.
AB 394
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COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, this conjunctive labeling
bill will ensure consumers recognize every bottle of wine that
is produced from Monterey County grapes. The author believes
the additional labeling will build the Monterey County wine
brand and strengthen the county's position as a recognized,
world-class winegrowing region. Similar conjunctive labeling
rules exist for Sonoma and Napa Counties as well as Lodi and
Paso Robles.
2)Monterey Wine. The Family Winegrowers of California (FWC)
indicate Monterey County is one of the fastest growing premium
vineyard and winery regions in the state. According to the
Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, there are
currently eight AVAs contained within the Monterey AVA: Arroyo
Seco, Carmel Valley, Chalone, Hames Valley, San Antonio
Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas, and Santa Lucia Highlands.
FWC asserts it is important for these smaller, separate AVAs
to benefit from and contribute to the affinity with Monterey
County labeling, and that AB 394 will accommodate the desired
specificity of sub-appellation labeling while linking wine to
the broader Monterey AVA.
Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 394
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