Wine Law. Is it of contemporary origin? Or does it have a past as complex as its present? Does it predate written history? Is there a story behind this unique field of law? Indeed, there is—and it is one that is just as distinctive as its present-day overtones. The research…
Revisiting the Volstead Act: The Power Behind the Eighteenth Amendment for Prohibition
The Volstead Act: the legislative measure whose primary intent was to frame the execution of the Eighteenth Amendment, a curt and inexorable constitutional revision whose overtones still reside in contemporary American society even upon its repeal almost one hundred years ago. The legal supremacy of the Eighteenth Amendment, however, often overshadows…
Friendlier Legislation for New York State Farm Wineries
As a New York resident—and a very strong advocate for both New York wineries and the development of the state’s wine law—I am excited to announce that the New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo, signed a bill, entitled the Fine Winery Bill, on Friday that significantly reduces the regulatory burdens…
Life After Champagne: Synopsis of the 2011 Wine & Law Summer Program
Life’s greatest levels of enlightenment derive from the journeys you take and the people you meet; for me, this idiom could not have possibly stood stronger during the 2011 Wine & Law Program on Transnational Wine Trade Law in Champagne, France. My acceptance to the Wine & Law Program last…
A Case for Vin Jaune: The Golden Wine of “Seemingly Immortal” Character
Last month, at the wine law event hosted by UC Davis, the 2006 U.S.-EC Wine Agreement represented the nexus of the symposium. As a follow-up post to the conference, allow me to review the “objectives” of the Agreement: to further emphasize the need for greater camaraderie between the United States…
Review of the UC Davis Wine Law Conference, June 2-4
The first Wine Law Conference held at UC Davis proved to be an opus, a first masterwork, for the hosting UCD School of Law and its organizers at the School of International Education. Largely sponsored by the Robert Mondavi Institute, this three-day symposium reflected the educational spirit of the Mondavi…
A Note on the Legal Categories of Wine in France
With an exciting academic experience in France just around the corner, I thought an entry discussing the legal categories of wine in France to be appropriate. France’s policing of wine is interesting, as the country is one of the most stringent regulators with respect to the names of wines and…
On Reserve’s Parting Words Before a Trip to Champagne, France
On Reserve entries will soon pause for several weeks as I explore the great wine region of Champagne, France and attend the 2011 Wine and Law Program. Whereas On Reserve entries may stop shortly, my curiosity with respect to wine and the law will not cease even for a moment…
A Note on the Labeling of Wine in the United States
Labeling wine (or what appears to be wine) in the United States can often times prove to be quite confusing. Generally speaking, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (hereinafter “TTB“) of the U.S. Department of Treasury (or, formally, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, hereinafter “BATF”) has…
Last Day to Register for UC Davis Wine Law Conference is May 24th
I already posted an article (See UC Davis to Host Upcoming Wine Law Seminar on Appellations and Wine Trade Names) with respect to the upcoming wine law conference, Toward a Common Standard: New European Union Label Laws and Geographic Indicators of Origin, hosted by University of California Davis, but Whitney…