The United States is the fourth-largest wine producer and the largest wine market in the world by consumption. Whether you run a 5-acre estate in Sonoma or a 500-acre operation in the Central Valley, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) sets the rules for production, labeling, and record-keeping.
For small and mid-size wineries, TTB compliance is not inherently difficult — but it becomes time-consuming when records are scattered across spreadsheets, paper logs, and the winemaker's memory.
What the TTB Requires
Basic Permit and Bond
Every winery needs a TTB Basic Permit (or alternating proprietor arrangement). Bonded winery premises must be registered, and production must occur within the bonded area.
Production Records
TTB regulations (27 CFR Part 24) require wineries to maintain detailed production records:
- Crush records: variety, source vineyard, tons received, Brix at harvest
- Fermentation records: tank assignments, yeast additions, fermentation temperatures
- Cellar treatment records: SO2 additions, fining agents, acid adjustments, blending
- Bottling records: lot number, volume, date, label approval (COLA)
Tax Determination and Reporting
Wine is taxed based on alcohol content and type (still, sparkling, hard cider). Wineries must file:
- TTB Report of Wine Premises Operations — monthly or quarterly, depending on volume
- Excise tax payments — based on gallons removed from bond
Labeling (COLA)
Every wine label must have a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) from the TTB before it can be sold. The COLA verifies that the label meets all regulatory requirements: appellation, variety percentage, alcohol content, health warnings, and more.
AVA Compliance
The American Viticultural Area (AVA) system governs geographic designations on wine labels. If your label says "Napa Valley" or "Willamette Valley," the TTB requires:
- 85% of the grapes must come from the named AVA
- 75% of the grapes must be the variety named on the label
- 95% of the grapes must be from the vintage year stated
Tracking these percentages requires vineyard-to-bottle traceability — especially when blending across vineyards, varieties, and vintages.
State-Level Regulations
Beyond the TTB, each state has its own alcohol regulatory body (ABC in California, OLCC in Oregon, LCB in Washington). Requirements vary by state and can include additional reporting, licensing, and DTC shipping permits.
For wineries that sell direct-to-consumer across state lines, compliance with each state's shipping laws is a significant administrative burden.
Why Digital Traceability Matters
Audits happen. TTB audits are not frequent, but they are thorough. An auditor will ask for production records, tax reports, and label documentation going back several years. Having these records in a searchable digital system versus filing cabinets makes a material difference.
Importers expect it. US wineries that export — particularly to the EU, Japan, or Korea — face documentation requirements from the importing country. A European importer will ask for full lot traceability before signing a purchase order.
Recall readiness. In the event of a product recall (contamination, mislabeling), traceability determines how quickly you can identify affected lots. The FDA requires food producers to trace one step forward and one step back within 24 hours.
How Cepaos Helps US Wineries
Cepaos provides vineyard-to-bottle traceability in a mobile-first platform designed for working winemakers — not IT departments:
- Crush and cellar records from your phone, in the cellar
- AVA compliance tracking: automatic percentage calculations for variety, origin, and vintage
- Lab results linked to each lot
- Cost tracking from vineyard to shipping dock
- Wine club management with recurring billing and subscriber analytics