Viticulture briefs

<p class="bold allcaps">SSU class on direct shipping rules</p> <p>Sonoma State University will be hosting a Feb. 22 class on complying with state and federal laws governing the direct sales of wine.</p><p>Steve Gross, director of state relations at the Wine Institute, will lead the class titled “State Compliance for Direct Shipping: A Hands-On Overview” from 8 a.m. to noon.</p><p>The seminar will cover the requirements for registration and reporting in all states, the tax and alcohol regulatory requirements for wine shipping, and the future of direct shipping regulations. It is a core course for the Tasting Room Management Certificate program.</p><p>For information visit www.sonoma.edu/sbe/wine-business-institute or contact Dana Swilley at swilley@sonoma.edu or 664-3347.</p><h3>FDA seeks comment on allergens</h3> <p>The Food and Drug Administration is requesting comments on whether the agency should establish regulatory thresholds or action levels for major food allergens, the Wine Institute reports.</p><p>Wine Institute's technical advisory committee is drafting a response and will be informing the FDA of efforts in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the European Union to address wine fining agents.</p><p>The Federal Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 did not set action levels. Since allergen labeling has been required, the agency has been devoting a significant portion of its enforcement resources to allergen mislabeling cases. Establishing an action level for various allergens would result in more effective enforcement efforts and more informative labeling, the Wine Institute said.</p><p>Comments are due on Feb. 12.</p><h3>New board for River Winegrowers</h3> <p>Russian River Valley Winegrowers, a marketing association of grape growers, wineries and commercial members associated with the Russian River Valley, has elected a new board for 2013.</p><p>Randy Luginbill, Silverado Sonoma Vineyards, was elected president. Other officers include Percy Brandon, Vintners Inn/John Ash & Co., 1st vice president; Chris Donatiello, C. Donatiello Winery, 2nd vice president; Saralee McClelland Kunde, Sonoma Ag Art, treasurer; and Carol Kozlowski-Every, Kozlowski Farms, secretary.</p><p>New board members include Gio Balistreri of Russian River Vineyards and Rick Bonitati of Jackson Family Wines. Continuing board members are Armon Azevedo, Wilbur-Ellis Co.; Nicole Bacigalupi, John Tyler Wines; John Balletto, Balletto Vineyards & Winery; Rod Berglund, Joseph Swan Vineyards; Guy Davis, Davis Family Vineyards; Shannon Donnell, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards; Alex Klein, American AgCredit; Lee Martinelli, Jr., Martinelli Farms; Mark McWilliams, Arista Winery; and John Holdredge, Holdrege Wines. </p><p>For more information about the group and its members visit www.rrvw.org.</p><p>Compiled by Cathy Bussewitz. Submit items to cathy.bussewitz@pressdemocrat.com.</p>