; Whereas the first American Viticultural Area was approved on June 20, 1980, for Augusta, Missouri, and, as of January 1, 2018, there have been 240 American Viticultural Areas established in the United States; Whereas at least 85 percent of a wine must be derived from grapes grown within the boundaries of the area in order to use the AVA name on its label; Whereas an AVA designation allows vintners to describe more accurately the origin of their wines, and helps them build and enhance the reputation and value of the wines they produce; Whereas an AVA designation allows consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic to a wine made from grapes grown in that area, and helps them identify wines they wish to purchase; Whereas appellations of origin, such as AVA designations, can assist American wine producers in establishing distinctive American place names in global markets and can create valuable export opportunities; Whereas wine exports generated more than $1.6 billion for United States producers last year, a fourfold increase over the past 20 years; Whereas once an American Viticulture Area term, or other appellation of origin, is protected in a foreign country, it helps vintners effectively promote their products and increase awareness of their region; Whereas the United States wine industry is growing and accounts for 10 percent of global wine production; Whereas American wine-growing regions and wine growers have contributed not only to the economic prosperity of the Nation but have also enhanced its cultural prestige by developing and sharing with the world their internationally recognized wines; Whereas American consumers have benefitted from the rich diversity and extraordinary quality of American wines and wine-growing regions; and Whereas responsibly enjoying wine often serves to enhance the richness of life and bring together more closely family and friends: Now, therefore, be it