by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 31, 2010
One early June afternoon, I rented a car from my home city Bologna and embarked on the most significant journey of my summer. After reading an article in the New York Times on Montalcino about a year before that originally sparked my interest in wine law, I knew my trip to Europe this summer would not be complete without exploring one of the most acclaimed Italian wine regions. Indeed, I was right; my visit to Montalcino was, in fact, the highlight of my trip. As a Cornell Hotelie, I was quite familiar with Banfi vitners and their contribution to my alma mater, as well as Castello Banfi’s prestige in the Montalcino region of the Italian peninsula. Alas, I felt I owed this trip to not only my interest in wine law, but my educational experience and pride as a Hotelie.

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by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 30, 2010
In the process of conducting some research tonight on wine law for my journal note, I stumbled upon an international program on the study of wine and law at the Université de Reims in Champagne, France. After a very positive experience this summer at the Università di Bologna in Bologna, Italy, I have recently found myself pondering as to my next international trip promoting my exploration on the international laws of wine. Originally, I felt my next journey would be to Buenos Aires, Argentina to receive a more global feel on New World wineries. However, after uncovering the new Wine & Law (Vin et Droit) summer program at the Université de Reims and its recent partnership with Moët Hennessy, I cannot imagine a more appropriate curriculum than that posed by its summer program on Wine and Law in the European Union.
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by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 29, 2010
Today, New York Civic posted an article analyzing alternative perspectives of New York Governor Paterson’s support of the sale of wine at local groceries throughout New York. The article specifically addresses the viewpoints of both New York wineries and liquor stores within the state. It can be accessed at Wine is Fine, Liquor is Quicker.
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by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 28, 2010
The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 by the 21st Amendment of the United States Constitution not only reinstated the legality of alcoholic beverage consumption, but also introduced a new system for alcoholic beverage distribution: the three-tier system. The three-tier system creates a platform between alcoholic beverage producers, distributors, and retailers. The underlying purpose of this system is to divide the legal responsibilities of the three tiers on the basis of state (and, in some cases, federal) regulation. Specifically, the three-tier system allows only producers to sell to distributors and only distributors to sell to retailers (who can then sell to consumers). Under this system, there are no direct sales between the producers and retailers (or the producers and consumers).
This is a preview of
Is There a Future for the Three-Tier Alcoholic Beverage Distribution System?
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by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 24, 2010
Happy Saturday from On Reserve.
Featured Winery: Wölffer Estate of Sagaponack, NY.

Wölffer Estate of Sagaponack, NY
by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 23, 2010
On Wednesday, New York’s Governor David Paterson vetoed a bill, previously created by the State’s legislature, that would have allowed New York wineries to sell their wine at food festivals without a fee. The Governor rejected the bill reasoning that its reference to “food festivals” was vague and not properly defined. In addition, Paterson argued that the bill excluded winery and vineyard owners from the permit fee, but still required others (such as microbreweries and other alcoholic beverage producers) to pay the fee. Under its current law, New York wineries and vineyards can obtain a permit that allows them to offer tastings and sell bottles of wine at festivals, but wineries and vineyards cannot sell wine by the glass or for consumption.
This is a preview of
New York Corks Food Festival Wine Sales Bill
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by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 20, 2010
Welcome to On Reserve: A Wine Law Blog. In the future, you can expect to read about important legal aspects of the wine industry, including contemporary and budding legal issues in the United States and internationally, the international and domestic history of wine law, case discussions, and even reviews of particular wineries and regions. It is On Reserve’s goal to provide its readers with a comprehensive review of the wine industry’s legal nexus from both a historical and modern perspective.
