TTB Newsletter for July 18, 2025

What is Vermouth Under TTB Regulations?

What is vermouth?

If you are considering producing vermouth, you may be wondering which TTB requirements apply: wine or distilled spirits? While vermouth contains added spirits, it is considered a wine under tax and labeling laws and regulations.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, vermouth is a type of special natural wine that must be produced in accordance with 27 CFR Part 24 Subpart H.

Under Federal labeling regulations, vermouth is classified as a wine - specifically, an aperitif wine as defined in 27 CFR 4.21(g).

An aperitif wine is wine having an alcoholic content of not less than 15 percent by volume, compounded from grape wine containing added brandy or alcohol, flavored with herbs and other natural aromatic flavoring materials, with or without the addition of caramel for coloring purposes, and possessing the taste, aroma, and characteristics generally attributed to aperitif wine, and shall be so designated unless designated as "vermouth" under 27 CFR 4.21(g)(2). Vermouth is a type of aperitif wine compounded from grape wine, having the taste, aroma, and characteristics generally attributed to vermouth.

What TTB requirements apply?

Vermouth produced in the United States for commercial sale must meet these requirements:

Department of Agriculture: Notices

TTB-regulated industries may find these USDA notices of interest.

Agricultural Marketing Service: National Organic Standards Board Call for Nominations

SOURCE: Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 131 / Friday, July 11, 2025

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA

ACTION: Notice; call for nominations

SUMMARY: Through this Notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing its call for nominations to fill five vacancies on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB): two individuals who own or operate an organic farming operation or employees of such individuals; two individuals who represent public interest or consumer interest groups; and one individual who is a USDA accredited certifying agent. Appointees will serve a 5-year term beginning in January 2026 and ending in January 2031. Additionally, USDA seeks nominations for a pool of candidates that the Secretary of Agriculture can draw upon as replacement appointees if unexpected vacancies occur.

DATES: Application packages must be received by mail or postmarked on or before September 9, 2025.

Read Federal Register Notice

Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues

SOURCE: Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 131 / Friday, July 11, 2025

AGENCY: U.S. Codex Office, USDA

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments

SUMMARY: The U.S Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on August 13, 2025. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items to be discussed at the 56th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR56) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). CCPR56 will be held in Santiago, Chile, from September 8-13, 2025. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 56th Session of the CCPR and to address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for August 13, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.