Virginia experienced a widespread frost event this spring. Thankfully it was prior to full bud break, and most growers are reporting normal or only slightly reduced yields. Some varieties and sites were unfortunately less fortunate.
Virginia ABC requires “Farm Wineries” to grow or lease a specified percentage of the fruit used in the production of their wines, for many this number is 51%.
If you experienced a substantial crop loss due to frost or other unpreventable natural event that results in noncompliance at harvest, you are entitled to apply for a “Fruit Loss Exemption Waiver” with VDACS.
Once you have an approved fruit loss exemption waiver from ABC you are then permitted to source supplemental fruit and maintain compliance with the Farm Winery rules.
In order to do this: (1) a farm winery must petition VDACS for a letter of exemption, (2) VDACS will then petition ABC for the exemption, and finally (3) ABC will approve the exemption request and return a signed document for your records.
Steps to apply for a Fruit Loss Exemption Waiver:
- Document the loss event with your vineyard manager.
- Date of event, Loss estimate, Photographic evidence!
- Contact your local Extension agent to verify the loss event.
- List of extension offices -or- Contact Dr. Drew Harner
- Petition VDACS with a formal request
- Letter template, be sure to cc all necessary parties
- Send letter to vdacs.commissioner@vdacs.virginia.gov
- Vdacs will formalize the request and send it to ABC
- ABC will authorize the request and provide a letter of approval
Any requests for an exemption from farm winery production rules are not approved until you get a formal letter from ABC approving this request. Once you have that you are ready for harvest!
The procedure for this is to detail the loss event as it relates to loss of volume produced, and request supplemental volume which would otherwise be