Comment 5: Hoffner, Barry (Silverwood Ranch)

Dear TTB: I am a grape-grower in the proposed Pine Mountain - Mayacmas AVA area. When I speak with industry professionals, it generally means little when i mention that our vineyard is located in Alexander Valley. However, when i clarifty that I am talking about Pine Mountain, they have a clear idea of the quality and uniqueness of the area. It is well known! We have planted our grapes on the Sonoma County side of our property, despite the fact that we do have quite a few plantable acreas on the Mendocino side. The growing conditions are exactly the same. The approval of the Pine Mountain - Mayacmas AVA, would remove the inconsistency of how wineries would view the same growing conditions but currently different AVAs. In short, Pine Mountain surely deserves to have its AVA. There is a very clear parallel in the very successful Rockpile AVA where growers transitioned over time from using the Dry Creek name for their grapes to the Rockpile name. thank you Barry Hoffner Silverwood Ranch