TTB proposes new Mill Creek-Walla Walla Valley AVA
Wineries and vineyards in the 4,898-acre area of Walla Walla County must await final rule after comments due Oct. 13, 2026.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish the Mill Creek-Walla Walla Valley American viticultural area. The proposal appears in the Federal Register volume 91, number 156, pages 52592-52598, and is identified as FR Doc No: 2026-16669, RIN 1513-AD16, Notice No. 242.
The proposed AVA would cover approximately 4,898 acres in Walla Walla County, Washington, and would lie entirely within the existing Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley AVAs. The petition describes the area as south-facing slopes of an interfluve between the Mill Creek and Spring Creek floodplains, with elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 feet.
According to the petition, the region contains twelve commercially-producing vineyards covering a total of 282 acres and five wineries. The name "Mill Creek-Walla Walla Valley" reflects local usage of the Mill Creek watershed and its location within the broader Walla Walla Valley.
Comments must be received on or before October 13, 2026. Submissions may be made electronically through Regulations.gov under docket TTB-2026-0004, or by mail to the address listed in the notice. The agency will consider all comments before finalizing the rule.
For additional information, contact Karen A. Thornton, Regulations and Rulings Division, at 202-453-1039, ext. 175.