Wine Samples Needed to Protect U.S. Authenticity

Dear Wine Institute Members,

We are requesting your support as the Wine Authenticity Project is entering a critical next phase of an effort that will help safeguard the integrity and future of U.S. wine.  As global regulators increasingly rely on authenticity models, the absence of a strong U.S. database leaves our wines vulnerable to counterfeiting, misclassification, and unfair trade barriers.

Why Your Participation Matters 

By contributing samples, you are helping to:

• Protect market access – Ensure regulators can verify that a California Cabernet is truly authentic.
• Defend against counterfeits – Prevent fraudulent wines from being passed off as U.S. products.
• Strengthen U.S. competitiveness – Match the rigorous databases already being built by France, Spain, Germany and Italy.
• Safeguard reputation & integrity – Build consumer and trade confidence in the authenticity of U.S. wines.
• Support a no-cost industry solution – Thanks to USDA funding, there’s no fee to participate beyond shipping samples.

Why the Next Phase is Critical

To date, we’ve trained the database with 100% varietally pure wines across major U.S. varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel/Primitivo, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Gris, Riesling (White Riesling) and Sauvignon Blanc

Now comes the next step: testing and challenging the model with commercially labeled varietal wines (75-100% of the stated variety). This real-world validation is essential to ensure accuracy, reduce false positives/negatives and build a scientifically defensible database for U.S. wine

How You Can Help

• What to send: Commercially labeled U.S. varietal wines (≥75% of a single variety)
• Sample size: Just 50 mL per wine (from bottle/can or bottling tank)
• Confidentiality: All samples are double-blinded to protect brand anonymity

Take action today: Contact Dr. Patricia Howe for quick instructions and materials. She’ll provide everything you need to participate.  Then speak with your winery teams, including counsel, to decide if would like to participate.

Every additional sample strengthens our ability to protect U.S. wines against fraud, counterfeiting and unfair trade barriers — ensuring confidence in our wines for decades to come.

With thanks,
Wine Authenticity Project Team