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W i n e s & V i n e s A U G U s T 2 0 1 4 77 Requiring Wineries to 'Go Texan' Change proposed for wine labels in the Lone Star State A ustin, Texas—On June 13, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) an- nounced a proposal to limit the pro- motional use of the "Go Texan" logo only on labels of wines made with at least 75% Texas grapes. Public comment on the proposal ended July 14, and TDA staff is currently review- ing comments to determine whether to move forward with the change or amend it. Once a final determination is made, the rule would be posted for a month before going into effect. The proposed change is in line with TTB regulations and came about after Texas wine blogger Andrew Chalk launched a campaign last year to change the regula- tions and allow only wineries using 100% Texas fruit the privilege of using the Go Texan logo, which resembles a branding iron shaped like the state and comes with state-sponsored marketing support. Chalk decried that some Texas wineries were using the logo to convince consumers they were buying a Texas product when in fact the wine was made with bulk wine or grapes from out of the state. Other bloggers in the state picked up on the issue, and they successfully peti- tioned the TDA to solicit public comments on Chalk's initial proposal to require a Go Texan wine to be made with 100% Texas fruit. That proposal drew an outpouring of sup- port and criticism, as some argued it was too restrictive in a state with challenging growing conditions and insufficient vineyard acreage to support the ever-growing number of wineries. The TDA settled on the 75% requirement because it's in line with federal appellation of origin standards. Les Constable, owner and winemaker of Brushy Creek Vineyards & Winery, which produces around 2,000 cases of wine per year in the north Texas town of Alvord, said the 75% proposal appears to be a fair compromise. "It wasn't something I wanted to go to war over, but at the same time the public might be misled, and I don't want the public to feel misled." —Andrew Adams Natural Corks Champagne Corks Twinline Corks Bartops VISION Synthetic Corks G-Cap® Screw Caps Sales Representatives: Chris & Liz Stamp info@lakewoodcork.com lakewoodcork.com 4024 State Route 14 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 607-535-9252 607-535-6656 Fax PIONEER INNOVATOR PARTNER Under a new proposal by state officials, the 'Go Texan' logo could only be used on wines made with at least 75% Texas fruit. News WineEast