California Bill Would Tighten Rules for Wines Labeled American

California lawmakers moved a bill forward on Thursday that would require wines labeled “American” and sold or bottled in the state to be made entirely from grapes grown in the United States, a proposal that backers say would bring the national label into line with California’s own rules for wines marked “California.”

The measure, AB 1585, cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee and now heads to the full Assembly for a vote in the next two weeks. If it becomes law, any wine carrying the word “American” on its label in California would have to be made from 100% American-grown winegrapes.

Supporters say the bill is meant to reduce confusion for consumers and tighten what they describe as truth-in-labeling standards. The California Association of Winegrape Growers and Family Winemakers of California said in a statement that the legislation would ensure that when a bottle says “American wine,” it actually means grapes grown in the United States.

Natalie Collins, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, said the committee vote was “an important step forward for the integrity of American wine” and argued that growers, wineries, farmworkers and local communities all have a stake in how wines are labeled. GinaLisa Tamayo, board president of Family Winemakers of California, said family wineries depend on honesty about what is in the bottle and where it comes from.

The bill was introduced by Assemblymembers Damon Connolly and Rhodesia Ransom. According to the groups backing it, 18 regional wine and grape associations, 11 members of the Legislature and more than 400 industry members submitted letters in support.

California already requires wines labeled “California” to be made from grapes grown in the state. AB 1585 would extend a similar standard to wines using “American” as a designation in California sales or bottling. The legislation is still early in the process and must clear additional votes before it can become law.

The debate comes at a time when labeling rules have become more important for wineries trying to distinguish domestic production from imported wine and for consumers who increasingly pay attention to origin claims on bottles. For producers that rely on blended sourcing or grapes from multiple regions, a stricter definition could affect packaging, marketing and distribution decisions if the bill advances further.