Vintners Back Extended Labeling Protections

Following a law requiring wines sporting “Napa” on the label be made with grapes from that region, winemakers and growers in next-door neighbor Sonoma County are supporting similar legislation.

The proposed legislation, carried by state Sen. Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), would extend protections to Sonoma County as well as the counties of Mendocino, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, where growers have expressed an interest in name protection. Wines sold with those names on the label would have to be made primarily with grapes grown in those counties.

The Napa bill, passed by state lawmakers in 2000, was subsequently challenged by vintner Fred Franzia of Bronco Wine Co. Bronco unsuccessfully challenged the law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and recently agreed to abide by the requirement, clearing the way for the new bill.