New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2001

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES ATF APPROVAL OF AVA PROTECTION FOR LONG ISLAND WINERIES

Approval Will Protect the Integrity of Long Island Wines

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has approved an application filed by Nassau and Suffolk County wineries to designate "Long Island" as a new American Viticultural Area (AVA). Schumer wrote to the ATF in November to urge them to swiftly approve the wineries' application.

"Long Island's wineries produce some of the finest wines in the country, but until today, their product was vulnerable to marketing fraud from outside wineries," said Schumer. "With the AVA designation, consumers will be assured that every bottle of wine that says 'Long Island' on the bottle actually comes from Long Island. I'm pleased that I was able to help the wineries earn the designation and glad that our hard work has finally paid off."

"The success of any great winery lies in its ability to protect to project regional purity and to provide the highest quality possible in every bottle and the AVA designation will help us achieve these goals," said Richard Olsen-Harbich, Wine Maker at Raphael Vineyard. "We're very grateful for the assistance that Senator Schumer has provided for the approval process to take place and be expedited."

"We are pleased to hear that the BATF has recognized Long Island as an official appellation," said Long Island Wine Council President Harold W. Watts. "Long Island is becoming increasingly respected as an important premium wine producing region. The addition of a Long Island appellation to the two existing appellations - The North Fork of Long Island and The Hamptons - will allow for further expansion beyond the two Forks of Long Island's East End, while at the same time protecting the overall integrity of our region's wines."

Because of the initiative of wine makers and favorable environmental conditions, the Long Island wine industry has developed over the last quarter century into a $65 million industry that generates $3.5 million in annual tax revenues and employs 4,000 people. The continued growth of the industry was threatened, however, because the "Long Island" name was susceptible to marketing fraud by outside wineries. Schumer joined the effort to acquire the AVA designation in November, when he sent a letter to ATF Director Bradley Buckles calling for swift approval of the wineries' application. In the letter, Schumer pointed to the fact that "no other region in the Eastern United States has the quality of soil, length of growing season, moderate winter temperatures, and necessary amount of natural precipitation as Long Island."

With the AVA designation, which takes effect on July 16, area wineries will be protected by the country's most stringent law with regards to point of origin. Designating Long Island as an AVA will protect the "Long Island" name from misuse by requiring wineries to prove that at least 85% of their wine comes from grapes grown on the Island. The AVA itself will encompass 1,170 square miles, including 2,500 acres of vineyard and 38 vineyards and winery businesses.

"Not only will the designation protect Long Island wineries - it will provide a shot in the arm to the Long Island's economy and help preserve local farmland," said Schumer. "It's win-win situation for everyone except those looking to fraudulently misuse the Long Island name."

Schumer thanked Olsen-Harbich , Karen Meredith, owner of Broadfields Vineyards, and the Long Island Wine Council for their efforts to earn the designation for Long Island's wineries.

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