Pinot Law

There is an interesting entry today over Capitol Confidential regarding a bill in the New York General Assembly regarding wine ice cream. As Irene over at Capitol Confidential notes, the memo accompanying the bill is “as fun as its subject.” My favorite tag line from the memo? “There is no doubt that with the passage of this bill there will be no more whining for wine ice cream.”

Of course, many of the commenters to the post emphasize their apparent nerdiness, and I hope to do them one better. You see, I actually took the time to determine whether TTB had regulations regarding such a product. And of course, I was not disappointed.

Specifically, 27 CFR Section 17.133 of the TTB’s regulations provides guidance regarding food product formulas. Formulas for nonbeverage food products on TTB Form 5154.1 may be approved if they are unfit for beverage purposes, but approval does not authorize manufacture or sale contrary to state law (hence the New York State bill).

Among the examples TTB provides of food products that have been found to be unfit for beverage purposes is “ice cream and ices where only sufficient spirits are used for flavoring purposes.” In light of this, maybe I ought to talk to my brother about some wine ice cream for the Summer? Perhaps with a Viognier?

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