Mendocino Ridge Viticultural Area (95R-017P)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 9

[TD ATF-392]

RIN 1512-AA07

Mendocino Ridge Viticultural Area (95R-017P)

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury.

ACTION: Treasury decision, final rule.

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SUMMARY: This Treasury decision establishes a viticultural area located

within the boundaries of Mendocino County, California to be known as

``Mendocino Ridge,'' under 27 CFR part 9. This viticultural area is the

result of a petition submitted by Mr. Steve Alden on behalf of the

Mendocino Ridge Quality Alliance. There are about 262,400 acres or

approximately 410 square miles within the outer boundaries of the

``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area, but the actual viticultural area

encompasses only the areas at or above 1200 feet in elevation. Because

of the 1200 foot elevation, this viticultural area is unique from other

coastal viticultural areas. Of the total 262,400 acres, less than one

third, or 87,466 acres, lies above 1200 feet elevation. Of these 87,466

acres, approximately 1500 to 2000 acres or 2% of the narrow timber

covered ridge-tops are suitable for grape production. There are

approximately 75 acres of grapes currently growing within the

boundaries of the viticultural area. The 75 acres of grapes are divided

among six wineries.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 26, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David W. Brokaw, Wine, Beer and

Spirits Regulations Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,

650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20226, (202) 927-8230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On August 23, 1978, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-53 (43 FR

37672, 54624) revising regulations in 27 CFR part 4. These regulations

allow the establishment of definitive viticultural areas. The

regulations allow the name of an approved viticultural area to be used

as an appellation of origin on wine labels and in wine advertisements.

On October 2, 1979, ATF published Treasury Decision ATF-60 [44 FR

56692] which added a new part 9 to 27 CFR, providing for the listing of

approved American viticultural areas, the names of which may be used as

appellations of origin.

Section 4.25a(e)(1), Title 27, CFR, defines an American

viticultural area as a delimited grape-growing region distinguishable

by geographic features, the boundaries of which have been delineated in

subpart C of part 9.

Section 4.25a(e)(2), Title 27, CFR, outlines the procedure for

proposing an American viticultural area. Any interested person may

petition ATF to establish a grape-growing region as a viticultural

area. The petition should include:

(a) Evidence that the name of the proposed viticultural area is

locally and/or nationally known as referring to the area specified in

the petition;

(b) Historical or current evidence that the boundaries of the

viticultural area are as specified in the petition;

(c) Evidence relating to the geographical characteristics (climate,

soil, elevation, physical features, etc.) which distinguish the

viticultural features of the proposed area from surrounding areas;

(d) A description of the specific boundaries of the viticultural

area, based on features which can be found on United States Geological

Survey (U.S.G.S.) maps of the largest applicable scale, and;

(e) A copy (or copies) of the appropriate U.S.G.S. map(s) with the

proposed boundaries prominently marked.

Petition

Mr. Steve Alden of Alden Ranch Vineyards petitioned ATF on behalf

of the Mendocino Ridge Quality Alliance for the establishment of a new

viticultural area located within the boundaries of Mendocino County,

California, to be known as ``Mendocino Ridge.'' There are currently six

producing vineyards in the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area.

Given the unusual nature of the area, ATF requested public comment

in Notice No. 848 on specific questions regarding the supporting

evidence. ATF pointed out that the viticultural area would include only

the land above a certain elevation within the boundaries described.

Thus, ATF wished to solicit public comment on the following questions

about the geographic

[[Page 55513]]

distinctiveness of the non-contiguous areas in the petition:

1. Do the non-contiguous sites in the proposed viticultural area

have such similar climate, soil, and other characteristics that they

can be considered as a single or common grape growing region?

2. Is the actual land included within the proposed viticultural

area at the 1200 foot (and above) elevation line reasonably

distinguishable from the adjacent land that is not included?

3. Does the totality of the geographic evidence regarding the

proposed viticultural area support the application of a reasonable

proximity rule to exclude widely scattered but otherwise similar

locations from being included within the proposed grape-growing region?

Comments

No comments were received in response to Notice No. 848.

Evidence That the Name of the Area Is Locally or Nationally Known

The name Mendocino Ridge has been chosen as the name of the

viticultural area because the area is widely known by that name. Many

books and magazines have historically referred to the viticultural area

as the Mendocino Ridge. For example, in 1988 the winery, Kendall-

Jackson, wrote:

* * * the vines in the Mariah vineyard are subject to the same

complicated climatic variables that have caused wine experts to hail

the Mendocino Coastal Ridge as one of the world's greatest Zinfandel

regions.''

More recently, in an article published in the February 1994 issue

of Gourmet Magazine, wine writer Gerald Asher wrote:

In Mendocino there's an equally wide divide between the tense

and concentrated Zinfandels produced from old vines planted by turn-

of-the-century Italian immigrants who settled the exposed, high

ridges between Anderson Valley and the Pacific and the subtly urbane

wines from vineyards almost as old but planted in milder and better-

protected sites around Ukiah and in the adjacent McDowell and

Redwood valleys. (Emphasis added)

Gerald Asher further stated that:

The revival of California Zinfandel as a serious varietal wine

began with the rediscovery of forgotten patches of old vines such as

those on the Mendocino Ridge, most of them tucked away among

hillside orchards. Jed Steele started to make wine from old

Mendocino Ridge Zinfandel vines at the Edmeades Vineyard & Winery in

Anderson Valley in the early 1970's.

The six vineyards within the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area

are known by locals and wine writers as the ``Mendocino Ridge''

vineyards. The area encompasses many named coastal ridges; i.e.,

McGuire Ridge, Zeni Ridge, Phelps Ridge, Signal Ridge, Campbell Ridge,

German Ridge, Hanes Ridge, Adams Ridge, Cliff Ridge, Greenwood Ridge,

McAllister Ridge, Brandt Ridge, Lambert Ridge, Mariah Ridge, Fleming

Ridge, Mikes Ridge, Yellow Hound Ridge, Johnny Woodin Ridge, Hog Ranch

Ridge, Hog Pen Ridge, Steve's Ridge, Ponds Ridge, Brytan Ridge, and

Pearly Ridge. The area also encompasses various ``mountain peaks;''

i.e., Cold Spring Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Bald Hill Dry Bridge

Mountain, Eureka Hill, Gualala Mountain, Red Rock Mountain, Snook

Mountain and Rockpile Peak. These ``mountain peaks'' are generally no

higher than points on the ridge. These ridges and peaks create the

water shed for the Gualala River, Garcia River, Alder Creek, Elk Creek,

Greenwood Creek, and the Navarro River. The ``Mendocino Ridge''

viticultural area encompasses only ridge-tops which reach an elevation

of 1200 feet or higher in the Coastal Zone of southwestern Mendocino

County. The boundary encompasses approximately 410 square miles or

about 262,400 acres which was necessary to include the numerous ridge-

tops comprising the grape growing areas. ATF is not aware of any grapes

being grown at the lower elevations in the area below the 1200 foot

coastal fog line.

Historical or Current Evidence That the Boundaries of the Viticultural

Area are as Specified in the Petition

Many articles have been written in wine periodicals and books over

the years about the unique and distinctive wines produced from grapes

grown within the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area. For example,

Making Sense of California Wine by Matt Kramer (1992, William Morrow

and Co., N.Y.) states:

There aren't many ridge vineyards but, as Spencer Tracy said in

Pat and Mike, `What's there is cherce.' Even more unexpected is the

grape variety: Zinfandel. Such ridge vineyards as Ciapusci Vineyard,

Mariah Vineyard, Zeni Vineyard, and DuPratt Vineyard create some of

the greatest Zinfandels in California. All are found between 1,400

feet and 2,400 feet in elevation. Jed Steele, the former winemaker

for Kendall-Jackson, sought out these grapes and demanded an

audience for them. The winery continues to issue named-vineyard

Zinfandels from several of these vineyards, all of them

extraordinary. (Id. at 218, emphasis added).

The petitioner also cited from Coastal Ridge Zinfandel, by Jed

Steele Ridge Review, Volume V, No. 1 (1995, The Ridgetimes Press,

Mendocino, CA). On page 7 it states:

That certain grape varieties, grown in specific geographical

locations, produce distinctive wines that are sought after by

appreciators of fine wine is a given phenomenon in the world of

viticulture and enology. Illustrations of such situations are Pinot

Noir when grown in Burgundy, the White Riesling when grown in the

Mosel Valley of Germany, and the Cabernet Sauvignon when grown in

the Rutherford-Oakville region of the Napa Valley. Zinfandel, when

grown in the Coastal range of Mendocino County, roughly between the

points where the Navarro River and Gualala River empty into the

ocean, is in my mind such a classic match of grape variety with a

particular climate, one that leads to the ultimate in winemaking

fruit. (Emphasis added.)

The cultivation of vineyards in the Mendocino Ridge began with the

first Italian settlers, who came to the area in the late 1800's to peel

tan bark. These Italian immigrants brought with them their grapes of

choice: Zinfandel, Alicante-Bouschet, Carignane, Muscat, Palomino, and

Malvasia. At one time, before Prohibition, it has been estimated that

Greenwood Ridge had some 250 acres of vineyards and Fish Rock Road had

another 150 acres of vineyards. Italian immigrant families with names

like Luccinetti, Pearli, Gianoli, Ciapusci, Soldani, and Zeni

homesteaded and planted vines along Fish Rock Road as early as the

1860's. Other Italian immigrants with names like Frati, Tovani, Giusti,

Pronsolino, and Giovanetti homesteaded along Greenwood Ridge around the

same time. According to Matt Kramer in Making Sense of California Wine

(1992):

The planting of these higher-elevation vineyards is due entirely

to an influx of Italian immigrants * * * in the 1890's * * * In

Italy, as elsewhere in Europe, grapes were found to perform better

on hillsides than on valley floors. Considering their grapes of

choice--Zinfandel, Alicante-Bouschet, Carignan, Muscat, Palomino,

and Malvasia--they were right. None of these sun-loving varieties

could have prospered in the cool, frost-prone Anderson Valley floor.

But once above the fog, the sunshine is uninterrupted. The ridge

sites rarely see the spring frosts. (Id. at 218.)

Prohibition came and many of these vineyards were removed. Of these

original vineyards planted by the Italian immigrants, three have

survived and still produce award winning wines to this day. Both the

Ciapusci and Zeni vineyards are still tended and owned by the original

families on Fish Rock Road. On Greenwood Ridge Road, the DuPratt

vineyard planted in 1916 is producing Zinfandel. In addition, the

Zenis, Ciapuscis, and DuPratts all had wineries

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at their vineyards. Part of the Ciapusci's winery is still standing and

parts of an old wine press can be found at the DuPratt vineyard site.

Tunnels used for storing wine can be found burrowed into the mountain

at the Zeni Vineyard. Three other vineyards, Mariah Vineyards,

Greenwood Ridge Vineyards, and Alden Ranch Vineyards, have been planted

in the past 25 years.

Evidence Relating to the Geographical Features (Climate, Soil,

Elevation, Physical Features, etc.) Which Distinguish the Viticultural

Features of the Area From Surrounding Areas

The ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area is shaped like a bulging

triangle with its northern apex less than a mile wide at the mouth of

the Navarro River. The southern base of the triangle is approximately

15 miles wide as it runs along the Mendocino/Sonoma County line. From

north to south the area is 36 miles long. A small segment of the

viticultural area overlaps the Anderson Valley viticultural area along

its northeastern boundary. This segment has been included in the

``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area because it is climatically,

geologically and enologically the same as the ``Mendocino Ridge'' area.

Again, Matt Kramer in Making Sense of California Wine (1992) states on

page 218:

Actually, the Anderson Valley is more complicated yet.

Everything so far described applies to what might be called Anderson

Valley bas. There's also an Anderson Valley haut. The AVA really

contains another, hidden appellation. Although not recognized as an

AVA, it should be. This ``hidden'' appellation is the vineyards

above the fog line, locally known as the ``ridge vineyards.'' The

name is apt: They are found on ridgelines above fourteen hundred

feet in elevation. Technically, these vineyards are Anderson Valley

AVA. In reality, they are their own world: more sun, no fog, yet

subject to the cooling temperatures that come with higher elevation.

(Emphasis added).

The grape growing region of the viticultural area encompasses the

coastal ridge above the 1200 foot elevation entirely within the Coastal

Zone in the southwest corner of Mendocino County, California. Less than

one third of the entire area, or 87,466 acres, lies above 1200 feet

elevation. Of these 87,466 acres, approximately 1500 to 2000 acres or

2% of the narrow timber covered ridge-tops are suitable for grape

production. There are approximately 75 acres of grapes currently

growing within the boundaries of the viticultural area. These 75 acres

are located in isolated pockets carved out of dense redwood and douglas

fir forest along the ridge-tops above the coastal fog line. Summer

mornings are characterized by ``lakes of fog'' with the ridge-tops

protruding like ``small islands'' soaking up the cool morning sun.

Topography

The ``Mendocino Ridge'' area is characterized by narrow irregular

ridges that have a high elevation point of 2736 feet at Cold Spring

Mountain. The side-slopes are steep and timber covered, with slopes

often exceeding 70%, making these areas unplantable. Because of the

steepness and narrowness of the ridge-tops, farmable acreage is at a

premium. Rarely in the viticultural area, does a ridge-top vineyard

exceed 30 acres in one continuous block.

The ``Mendocino Ridge'' terrain can be sharply contrasted with the

surrounding areas. To the west is the Pacific Ocean. To the northeast

is the valley lowlands of the Anderson Valley viticultural area. The

grapes grown in this area are planted in the fertile alluvial soils

along the Navarro River. To the southeast are the long, sloping

hillsides of the Yorkville benchland area. Grapes grown in this area

have been traditionally planted on the bottom lands and on the hillside

benches to the east of Highway 128. To the south is the Sonoma/

Mendocino County line and the Sonoma Coast viticultural area.

Soils

The soils are unique to this triangle of rugged, timber-covered

ridge-top area and have been shown to be distinct from the surrounding

area's soils. Climatically, this area sits entirely within the Coastal

Zone and receives the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean which

surround these ridges and peaks with fog, making these ridges into what

the petitioner calls ``cool, sun-soaked islands in the sky.'' The

``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area also receives a significantly

greater amount of annual rainfall than the surrounding areas.

The soils within the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area have

been identified by the Soil Conservation Service in a National

Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort of the United States Department

of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, State agencies including the

Agricultural Experiment Stations and local agencies.

The area is dominated by timber type soils and is clearly separated

from surrounding soils at the ``Mendocino Ridge'' boundary. To the west

is the Pacific Ocean. To the northeast are the fertile alluvial valley

soils of the Anderson Valley and to the southeast are the upland grass

range soils of the Yorkville area. To the south is the county line and

the Sonoma Coast Appellation.

Moreover, the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area is dominated by

soils that fall into the general soil category of Ustic-isomesic type

soils. These soils lie mainly between 500 feet and 2000 feet elevation

within the zone of coastal influence. The soil does receive some

moisture added by the tree canopy which causes water to precipitate

from the fog. However, the fog influence is less pronounced at the

upper elevations. It is less dense and does not blanket this zone as

frequently as at the lower elevations. The soils are dry for part of

the summer and there is little variation between summer and winter soil

temperatures at 20 inches of depth. Redwood is the most reliable

indicator of this zone. Redwood can often comprise 15 to 50 percent of

the tree canopy with douglas fir, tanoak, and Pacific madrone being the

other dominant species. The understory vegetation is often a dense

thicket of California huckleberry and tanoak.

The specific soil types that dominate the ``Mendocino Ridge''

viticultural area are identified as follows:

1. Zeni

This soil is moderately deep and well-drained fine-loamy type soil.

Typically, the loam surface layer is underlain by a loam subsoil. Soft

sandstone is at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Slopes range from 9 to 75

percent. The vegetation is mainly Douglas fir and redwood. Average pH

is 5.7.

2. Yellowhound

This soil is deep and well-drained. Typically, the gravelly loam

surface is underlain by an extremely gravelly loam subsoil. Hard

sandstone is at a depth of 40 to 60 inches. Slopes range from 9 to 100

percent. The vegetation is mainly Douglas fir and redwood. Average pH

is 5.6.

3. Ornbaun

This subsoil is deep and well-drained, with little or no seasonal

fluctuation in soil temperature. Typically, the loam surface layer is

underlain by a loam and clay loam subsoil. Soft sandstone is found

underneath at a depth of 40 to 60 inches. This soil occurs on hilly and

mountainous uplands with slopes of 9 to 75 percent. The vegetation is

mainly Douglas fir and redwood. Average pH is not available.

4. Gube

This soil is moderately deep, well-drained soil formed in material

weathered from sandstone. Gube soils

[[Page 55515]]

are on mountains and have slopes of 30 to 75 percent. The vegetation is

mainly Douglas fir and redwood. Average pH is 5.4.

5. Fish Rock

This soil is a shallow, well-drained soil formed in material

weathered from sandstone or mudstone. Fish Rock soils are on ridgetops

and upper sideslopes of coastal hills and mountains and have slopes of

2 to 30 percent. The vegetation is mainly Douglas fir and redwood.

Average pH is 4.8.

6. Snook Series

This soil is a very shallow, somewhat excessively drained soil

formed in material weathered from sandstone and shale. Snook soils are

on mountains and have slopes of 30 to 75 percent. The vegetation is

mainly Douglas fir and redwood. Average pH is 5.6.

7. Kibesillah

This soil is moderately deep and well-drained and was formed in

material weathered from sandstone. Kibesillah soils are on hills and

mountains and have slopes of 9 to 100 percent. The vegetation is mainly

Douglas fir and redwood. Average pH is 5.5

The above soils contrast with the soils to the northeast and

southeast of the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area. Along the

northeast border of the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area are the

deep alluvial soils of the Anderson Valley and Mendocino viticultural

area bottom land. These fertile soils were identified by the USDA soil

conservation service of the Mendocino County bottom lands completed in

1973. These soils are: CeB, Cole Clay Loam Wet; JaF, Jesephine Loam;

TaC, Talmadge; Gravelly Sandy Loam; SeB, San Ysidro Loam; EdA, Esparto

Silt Loam, Wet; PbC, Pinole Gravelly Loam; MdB, Maywood Sandy Loam,

occasionally flooded, and; FcA, Fluvents, frequently flooded. Along the

southeast border of the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area are the

Xeric-mesic soils of the Yorkville corridor east of Highway 128 along

the sweeping, grassy, oak studded slopes. These soils are grass, oak,

and brush covered. The Yorkville soils are subject to little or no

coastal influence, unlike the soils in the ``Mendocino Ridge''

viticultural area which are dominated by the coastal influence. Soils

are usually dry from early June to October. The soil temperature at 20

inches in depth varies by more than 9 degrees between summer and winter

unlike the Ustic-isomestic soils of the ``Mendocino Ridge''

viticultural area which do not vary. The vegetation types commonly

found on Xeric-mesic soils are interior live oak, California black oak,

Oregon white oak, Eastwood manzanita, toyon rose, bedstraw and annual

bromes. The specific Xeric-mesic type soils of the Yorkville upland

area contrast with the soils in the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural

area.

In summary, the soils of the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area

are dominated by ``timber'' type soils with redwood, Douglas fir,

tanoak, and Pacific madrone being the dominant vegetation. These soils

are well drained and have little or no summer to winter soil

temperature variations. In contrast, the soils of the surrounding areas

are the deep alluvial Anderson Valley soils to the northeast and the

upland rangeland soils of the Yorkville area to the southwest.

Climate

The ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area lies entirely within the

Coastal Climate Zone as defined by The Climate Of Mendocino County, a

booklet published by the Mendocino County Farm and Home Advisors

Office. The Coastal Climate Zone is cooled by the ocean influence of

the Pacific. This Zone is continuous from north to south along the

``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area boundary and is commonly referred

to as the redwood belt. The area is dominated by the influence of the

Pacific Ocean at its western border throughout the year, unlike the

area to the east of the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area which is

within the Transitional Climate Zone. ``Transitional'' means the area's

climate is subject to both the ocean's cooling influences and the

warmth of the interior areas at different times of the year.

The ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area is unique from other

coastal viticultural areas because of its elevation of 1200 feet or

higher. The elevation line being at approximately the fog line means

that while the valleys may be full of coastal fog, the vineyards are

fully exposed to the sun while receiving the cooling influences of the

fog.

The ``Mendocino Ridge'' area has both a rainy and dry season of

moderate temperature. The rainy season occurs from November through

May. The average annual temperature for the area is about 53 degrees

Fahrenheit, and the average annual precipitation is 75+ inches a year.

Because of the area's coastal influence the average length of the

growing season is from 275 to 300 days.

The climate in the adjacent growing regions is strikingly

different. In the Yorkville Area, east of Highway 128, long, sweeping

slopes lie within the Transitional Climatic Zone, receiving much more

sun and inland weather influences. These inland weather influences mean

the Yorkville area's average temperatures are cooler in the winter and

hotter in the summer and the growing season is shorter, averaging

between 250 and 275 days in length. The average annual precipitation is

only 49.46 inches a year. Source: The Climate of Mendocino County,

Mendocino County Farm and Home Advisors Office, page 10. With regard to

Anderson Valley, it lies under the fog layer, receiving fewer sunlight

hours than the ``Mendocino Ridge,'' grape growing areas which are

entirely above the fogline. The average annual precipitation is only

40.68 inches a year. Source: The Climate of Mendocino County, Mendocino

County Farm and Home Advisors Office, page 10.

Boundaries

The boundary lines of the ``Mendocino Ridge'' viticultural area

closely follow the line of Coastal Zone influence, above 1200 feet

elevation in the southwest corner of Mendocino County, California. The

boundaries of the area may be found on the following U.S. Department of

Interior Geological Survey 15 minute series Quadrangle maps:

(1) Ornbaun Valley Quadrangle, California, 1960

(2) Navarro Quadrangle, California, 1961.

(3) Point Arena Quadrangle, California, 1960.

(4) Boonville Quadrangle, California, 1959.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.

Chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR Part 1320, do not

apply to this notice because no requirement to collect information is

proposed.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

It is hereby certified that this regulation will not have a

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

The establishment of a viticultural area is neither an endorsement nor

approval by ATF of the quality of wine produced in the area, but rather

an identification of an area that is distinct from surrounding areas.

ATF believes that the establishment of viticultural areas merely allows

wineries to more accurately describe the origin of their wines to

consumers, and helps

[[Page 55516]]

consumers identify the wines they purchase. Thus, any benefit derived

from the use of a viticultural area name is the result of the

proprietor's own efforts and consumer acceptance of wines from that

region. No new requirements are proposed. Accordingly, a regulatory

flexibility analysis is not required.

Executive Order 12866

It has been determined that this regulation is not a significant

regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866. Accordingly,

this final rule is not subject to the analysis required by this

Executive Order.

Drafting Information

The principal author of this document is David W. Brokaw, Wine,

Beer, and Spirits Regulations Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and

Firearms.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

Administrative practices and procedures, Consumer protection,

Viticultural areas, Wine.

Authority and Issuance

Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, part 9, American

Viticultural Areas, is amended as follows:

PART 9--AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205.

Subpart C--Approved American Viticultural Areas

Par. 2. Subpart C is amended by adding Sec. 9.158 to read as

follows:

* * * * *

Sec. 9.152 Mendocino Ridge.

(a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this

section is ``Mendocino Ridge.''

(b) Approved maps. The appropriate maps for determining the

boundary of the Mendocino Ridge viticultural area are four 1:62,500

scale U.S.G.S. topographical maps. They are titled:

(1) Ornbaun Valley Quadrangle, California, 15 minute series

topographic map, 1960.

(2) Navarro Quadrangle, California, 15 minute series topographic

map, 1961.

(3) Point Arena Quadrangle, California, 15 minute series

topographic map, 1960.

(4) Boonville Quadrangle, California, 15 minute series topographic

map, 1959.

(c) Boundary. The Mendocino Ridge viticultural area is located

within Mendocino County, California. Within the boundary description

that follows, the viticultural area starts at the 1200 foot elevation

(contour line) and encompasses all areas at or above the 1200 foot

elevation line. The boundaries of the Mendocino Ridge viticultural

area, using landmarks and points of reference found on appropriate

U.S.G.S. maps, follow.

(1) Beginning at the Mendocino/Sonoma County line at the mouth of

the Gualala River, where the Gualala River empties into the Pacific

Ocean, in section 27 of Township 11 North (T11N), Range 5 West (R5W),

located in the southeastern portion of U.S.G.S. 15 minute series map,

``Point Arena, California;''

(2) Then following the Mendocino/Sonoma County line eastward to the

southeast corner of section 8 in T11N/R13W, on the U.S.G.S. 15 minute

map, ``Ornbaun Valley, California;''

(3) Then from the southeast corner of section 8 in T11N/R13W

directly north approximately 3+ miles to the southwest corner of

section 9 in T12N/R13W;

(4) Then proceeding in a straight line in a northwesterly direction

to the southwestern corner of section 14 in T13N/R14W;

(5) Then directly north along the western line of section 14 in

T13N/R14W to a point on the western line of section 14 approximately

\1/4\ from the top where the Anderson Valley viticultural area boundary

intersects the western line of section 14 in T13N/R14W;

(6) Then in a straight line, in a northwesterly direction, to the

intersection of an unnamed creek and the south section line of section

14, T14N/R15W, on the U.S.G.S. 15 minute series map, ``Boonville,

California;''

(7) Then in a westerly direction along the south section lines of

sections 14 and 15 in T14N/R15W to the southwest corner of section 15,

T14N/R15W, on the U.S.G.S. 15 minute series map, ``Navarro,

California;''

(8) Then in a northerly direction along the western section lines

of sections 15, 10, and 3 in T14N/R15W in a straight line to the

intersection of the Navarro River on the western section line of

section 3 in T14N/R15W;

(9) Then in a northwesterly direction along the Navarro River to

the mouth of the river where it meets the Pacific Ocean in section 5 of

T15N/R17W;

(10) Then in a southern direction along the Mendocino County

coastline to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line to the beginning point at

the mouth of the Gualala River in section 27 of T11N/R15W, on the

U.S.G.S. 15 minute series map, ``Point Arena, California.''

Signed: September 3, 1997.

John W. Magaw,

Director.

Approved: September 24, 1997.

John P. Simpson,

Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement).

[FR Doc. 97-28280 Filed 10-24-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810-31-P