Big wine working hard to lower vintage standards

TTB comments to the proposed watering down of the vintage date requirements have been posted and it is pretty clear that the majority of the big US wine interests are pushing for a lowering of US vintage standards while little guys are opposed.  I, personally, am always suspicious when big companies from any industry get together and am betting the little guys are closer to having the consumers best interests at heart.

Here's how they break down:
For weakening the vintage requirements --

• Eric Wente (President of the Wine Institute)
• All the comments submitted from Gallo
• All comments submitted from Constellation
• Gary Heck of Korbel
• Ted Baseler from Stimson Lane
• Diageo
• The Wine Group

Against weakening the vintage requirements --

• California Association of Wine Grape Growers
• Napa Valley Vintners
• Terlato Wine Group -- also sending lots of letters around to key wine publications
• F. Paul Pacult from the Spirits Journal
• Every consumer who wrote in!

Of particular note (and deserving of real congratulations for sticking to the stronger position despite their size): Kendall Jackson and Wine America (another trade group that often is in lock step with the Wine Institute).

Should be interesting to keep watching this... Unfortunately, my guess is that big business will win...