“Napa” is one of the most recognizable and valuable names in the wine industry—but using it on a wine label or in advertising is not simply a marketing decision.
Federal regulations and California law determine when a wine can use Napa, Napa Valley or one of Napa Valley’s sub-appellations. The requirements can also change depending on whether Napa appears as an appellation, within a brand name or elsewhere on the label.
Before submitting a label for approval or publishing advertising, winery teams should be able to answer questions such as:
Napa Valley AVA Map courtesy of SommTV
Does the wine contain enough Napa Valley fruit to use the appellation?
Does it qualify to list a Napa Valley sub-AVA such as Oakville or Calistoga?
Can Napa appear in a brand name when the wine is not made from Napa grapes?
Can Napa appear elsewhere on the label?
Can more than one county be used as the appellation?
When does California law require “Napa Valley” to appear?
Do the federal and state requirements overlap?
Wine Compliance Alliance created When Does a Wine Qualify for Napa? to help winery professionals understand the rules before a label is submitted, printed or promoted.
The self-paced course explains which federal and California agencies regulate the use of Napa on wine labels and advertising. Participants learn the federal requirements for using Napa within a wine brand name, the minimum percentages associated with different types of appellations and the California laws that create additional requirements for Napa wines.
The course also uses examples of different wine blends to demonstrate why some wines qualify to use Napa designations while others do not.
Enrollment includes:
Detailed instructional videos
Examples of blends that qualify for Napa appellations
Examples of blends that do not qualify
Four quizzes to reinforce the material
Four downloadable handouts
The opportunity to submit questions
Lifetime access to the course
The training is particularly valuable for compliance employees, label coordinators, marketing professionals, winemakers and anyone responsible for submitting labels to the TTB.
Understanding the requirements before label development begins can help wineries avoid rejected applications, expensive label changes and advertising language that does not comply with the law.
Enroll in When Does a Wine Qualify for Napa? for a one-time payment of $475 and gain lifetime access to a practical resource your team can consult whenever a Napa-related label or marketing question arises.
Learn more and enroll through the Winery Compliance Training Academy at winecompliancealliance.com/training.