[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 27, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 27CFR4.23]

[Page 21-22]
 
            TITLE 27--ALCOHOL, TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND FIREARMS
 
 CHAPTER I--ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE 
                                TREASURY
 
PART 4_LABELING AND ADVERTISING OF WINE--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart C_Standards of Identity for Wine
 
Sec.  4.23  Varietal (grape type) labeling.

    (a) General. The names of one or more grape varieties may be used as 
the type designation of a grape wine only if the wine is also labeled 
with an appellation of origin as defined in Sec.  4.25a.
    (b) One variety. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this 
section, the name of a single grape variety may be used as the type 
designation if not less than 75 percent of the wine is derived from 
grapes of that variety, the entire 75 percent of which was grown in the 
labeled appellation of origin area.
    (c) Exceptions. (1) Wine made from any Vitis labrusca variety 
(exclusive of hybrids with Vitis labrusca parentage) may be labeled with 
the variety name if:
    (i) Not less than 51 percent of the wine is derived from grapes of 
the named variety;
    (ii) The statement ``contains not less than 51 percent (name of 
variety)'' is shown on the brand label, back label, or a separate strip 
label, (except that this statement need not appear if 75 percent or more 
of the wine is derived from grapes of the named variety); and
    (iii) The entire qualifying percentage of the named variety was 
grown in the labeled appellation of origin area.
    (2) Wine made from any variety of any species found by the 
appropriate TTB officer upon appropriate application to be too strongly 
flavored at 75 percent minimum varietal content may be labeled with the 
varietal name if:
    (i) Not less than 51 percent of the wine is derived from grapes of 
that variety;

[[Page 22]]

    (ii) The statement ``contains not less than 51 percent (name of 
variety)'' is shown on the brand label, back label, or a separate strip 
label (except that this statement need not appear if 75 percent or more 
of the wine is derived from grapes of the named variety); and
    (iii) The entire qualifying percentage of the named variety was 
grown in the labeled appellation of origin area.
    (d) Two or more varieties. The names of two or more grape varieties 
may be used as the type designation if:
    (1) All of the grapes used to make the wine are of the labeled 
varieties;
    (2) The percentage of the wine derived from each variety is shown on 
the label (with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 percent); and
    (3)(i) If labeled with a multicounty appellation of origin, the 
percentage of the wine derived from each variety from each county is 
shown on the label; or
    (ii) If labeled with a multistate appellation of origin, the 
percentage of the wine derived from each variety from each state is 
shown on the label.
    (e) List of approved variety names. Effective February 7, 1996, the 
name of a grape variety may be used as a type designation for an 
American wine only if that name has been approved by the Administrator. 
A list of approved grape variety names appears in subpart J of this 
part.

[T.D. ATF-370, 61 FR 538, Jan. 8, 1996]