Implementation of Public Law 105-34, Section 1417, Related to the Use of Additional Ameliorating Material in Certain Wines (98R-89P)

This final rule implements one of the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. In accordance with the law, ATF is amending the regulations to extend the amelioration and sweetening limitations so that wines made exclusively from any fruit (excluding grapes) or berry with a fixed acid content of 20 or more parts per thousand are entitled to a volume of up to 60 percent ameliorating material. To provide agreement with the IRC, the regulations are changed to raise the maximum limit on alcohol content derived from fermentation from 13 percent to 14 percent in ameliorated fruit (excluding grape) and citrus wines.