Folks out in the Tra
cy area (slogan, "The Place to Live Your Future") have reason to celebrate. After a five-year battle, they’ve been granted the latest AVA – American Viticultural Area – for the Tracy Hills AVA. Such a privilege allows vineyards from that area to, theoretically, earn more for their grapes, since producers can use the appellation on their labels instead of simply "California". The TTB grants AVA status to a region when it proves it has a unique and identifiable characteristic worthy of recognition.
I have to send kudos to the mastermind behind this effort – Jeff Brown of Tulip Hill Winery, who spear-headed and funded the entire effort. The AVA contains four vineyards as well as Tulip Hill, and is the prospective home of its second winery – Windmill Ridge Winery.
And the small size of this appellation brings up some interesting questions about AVAs…
Continue reading ‘Terroir, or not Terroir, that is the question’
