Various media sources have reported that Russia is requiring Champagne wines from the actual appellation of Champagne to tout “Sparkling Wine” on their labels as a result of a new law that went into effect on July 2nd. See, e.g., Only Wines Made in Russia Can be Called Champagne Under…
Tag: appellations
Minnesota Winemakers Question the Constitutionality of Grape Source Requirements
Owners of two Minnesota wineries are challenging the state’s law which limits wine production by Minnesota-licensed farm wineries to predominantly Minnesota-grown grapes. In 2017, Alexis Bailly Vineyard and Next Chapter Winery challenged a provision of the state’s law and argued that the law is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s interstate commerce…
Oregon May Soon Tighten its Wine Law for Wines Produced or Bottled in Other States
A bill was introduced to the Oregon Senate last week which proposes to amend several sections of the Oregon Revised Statutes, namely ORS 471.445 and ORS 471.446. The Senate Bill, SB 111-1, proposes significants changes to the Oregon Revised Statutes with respect to wine labeling, many of which will directly impact wineries located…
Recent USPTO Trademark Decisions Relating to Alcohol Beverages
The USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (“TTAB”) recently issued three relevant decisions to the wine, beer, and spirits industries. The decisions are summarized below. In re El Galan, Inc., Serial No. 86961428 (February 1, 2018) [not precedential]: El Galan, Inc. (“Applicant”) sought registration of the mark TERNURA in standard…
Texas Proposes to Change State Wine Law Regarding Appellations of Origin
Recently, the state of Texas saw some interesting action with respect to wine and the law. House Bill 1514, sponsored by Rep. Jason Isaac, relating to the labeling of wine as originating from the state is causing a significant amount of concern among winemakers. The bill proposes to change the Texas Alcoholic…
TTB Cancels Declaration Requirement for Pinot Noir Wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon Region of France
Last week, TTB issued an industry circular (Industry Circular Number 2017-3) that cancels a declaration requirement with respect to Pinot Noir wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon Region of France. The 2017 industry circular supersedes Industry Circular 2010–5, Pinot Noir from the Languedoc-Roussillon Region of France, which required importers of wines naming Pinot…
The (Legal) Truth Behind American Viticultural Areas
What are American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)? Are they appellations? AVAs are types of appellations—but not all appellations are AVAs. For example, California and Texas and Napa County and Sonoma County are considered to be an appellation of origin with respect to wine labeling. But they are not AVAs. Both appellations…
TTB Establishes New AVA Lamorinda Viticultural Area
On Wednesday, February 24th, TTB issued a final rule in the Federal Register establishing a new American Viticultural Area (AVA) called Lamorinda Viticultural Area. The new AVA contains 29,369 acres in Contra Costa County, California and is entirely within the established (and larger) San Francisco Bay and Central Coast AVAs. The original petition was submitted…
Which Came First: The Trademark or the Viticultural Area?
Last week, San Antonio Express News reported that a California-based winery named San Antonio Winery brought a trademark suit against a San Antonio-based winery called Lara Vineyard. In its complaint, San Antonio Winery alleged that Lara Vineyard’s use of the term “San Antonio” as a fanciful name on its labels infringed upon…
Proposed Willcox Viticultural Area and Establishment of The Los Olivos District Viticultural Area
On January 21, 2016, TTB published a notice in the Federal Register proposing the establishment of the Willcox Viticultural Area, which is located in portions of Graham and Cochise Counties in Arizona (but is not currently located within, nor does it contain, any other established American Viticultural Area). The proposed Viticultural Area…