Establishment of Santa Rita Hills Viticultural Area (98R-129 P)

This final rule establishes a viticultural area located in Santa Barbara County, California, to be known as "Santa Rita Hills." The proposed area occupies more than 48 square miles. This action is being taken as a result of a petition from viticulturists and vintners of the proposed area under the direction of J. Richard Sanford (Sanford Winery), Bryan Babcock (Babcock Vineyards and Winery), and Wesley D. Hagen (Vineyard Manager of Clos Pepe Vineyards). The establishment of viticultural areas and the subsequent use of viticultural area names as appellations of origin in wine labeling and advertising allow wineries to designate the specific areas where the grapes used to make the wine are grown and enable consumers to better identify the wines they purchase.