(a) The Tennessee wine and grape board is hereby created, referred to in this part as the “board”, for the purpose of supporting the growth of the wine industry in this state.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 57-3-1101

  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Wine: means the product of the normal alcoholic fermentation of the juice of dried or fresh, sound, ripe grapes, fruit, or other agricultural products, with the usual cellar treatment and necessary additions to correct defects due to climatic, saccharine, and seasonal conditions, including champagne, sparkling, and fortified wine of an alcoholic content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by volume. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
(b) For administrative purposes only, the board is attached to the department of agriculture.
(c) The board is composed of seven (7) members, as follows:

(1) The commissioner of agriculture, or the commissioner’s designee;
(2) The commissioner of tourism, or the commissioner’s designee;
(3) A Tennessee wine producer, appointed by the governor;
(4) A Tennessee grape or fruit producer, appointed by the governor;
(5) A person in higher education with a background in fermentation or viticulture, appointed by the governor; and
(6) Two (2) members who are involved, with respect to the wine industry in this state, in production, marketing, sales, journalism, or education, appointed by the governor.
(d) Members appointed under subdivisions (c)(3)-(6) serve at the pleasure of the governor.
(e) The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their service on the board, nor are the members entitled to per diem or travel expenses for the purposes of carrying out their duties under this part.
(f) The commissioner of agriculture shall call the first meeting of the board. The board shall elect its chair and other officers at the first meeting of the board and annually thereafter.
(g) For the initial appointments of members under subdivisions (c)(3)-(6), the governor shall appoint two (2) members to four-year terms, two (2) members to three-year terms, and one (1) member to a two-year term.
(h) After the initial appointments, each appointed member shall serve a term of four (4) years. Vacancies on the board must be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.
(i) For purposes of conducting official business of the board, a quorum consists of no less than four (4) members.
(j) The board shall issue an annual report on the wine industry and viticulture in this state and on current and future activities of the board, and shall submit the report to the governor, the commissioner of finance and administration, the chair of the agriculture and natural resources committee of the house of representatives, and the chair of the energy, agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate.
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