I am extremely excited to announce that next Tuesday, September 16, 2014, I will speak about wine law at a CLE course. The course, titled “Introduction to Wine Law” will take place at Ashton’s Alley Restaurant in New York City. The CLE program is scheduled to run from 6:00 PM to…
Author: Lindsey A. Zahn
Lindsey is the founder and author of On Reserve: A Wine Law Blog. She is an attorney and the Managing Partner of the alcohol beverage and food law firm Lindsey Zahn P.C. Lindsey is admitted to the New York State Bar.
Pennsylvania Attorney’s Wine Collection Seized and May be Destroyed by Government
Arthur Goldman, a Pennsylvania attorney, was recently accused of selling wine without a license. The story goes that Mr. Goldman privately procured high-end wines for friends and colleagues, selling the wine directly to multiple parties through his personal cellar as opposed to shipping the wine through Pennsylvania’s state-controlled liquor stores. (For the…
Introducing LabelVision: The 21st Century COLA Search
Last week, the folks at ShipCompliant officially rolled out a new service called LabelVision. To many in the wine, beer, or spirits industry, this new resource is a game changer. Instantly, we have access to over 1.5 million federally approved labels as far back as 20 years. To some, such a system may…
The Rudy Kurniawan Sentencing and the Wine Label Certification Statement
On Thursday, August 7, 2014, Indonesian wine collector Rudy Kurniawan was sentenced to ten years in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman. Mr. Kurniawan is purported to have swindled more than $20 million worth of fake wine that he allegedly created in his California home and later sold to collectors….
How Are Organic Wine Labels Regulated in the U.S.?
Here is a good, and relevant, question. What happens if a wine label boasts the term, “ORGANIC,” or “CERTIFIED ORGANIC” but is neither organic nor certified as such? As organic products—including wines—become more popular among consumers, there is a greater risk of fraudulent use of the term “ORGANIC.” See, e.g., Is…
The Trademark Battle of Jamieson Ranch Vineyards and Pernod’s Irish Distillers
In March, Jamieson Ranch Vineyards launched a declaratory judgment suit against Pernod Richard’s Irish Distillers Limited, owner of the renowned Jameson Irish Whiskey, in response to the Ranch’s receipt of a cease and desist letter. See Jamieson Vineyards Takes On Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers. According to Jameson Clashes with Jamieson Over Name, the letter issued by Irish Distillers…
Upcoming Seminars and Opportunities in Wine Law
Two exciting opportunities in wine law are scheduled for the next few months. The first is the Wine and Spirits Law Academy at UC Davis on September 8th, 9th, and 10th. Wine and spirits legal experts from around the world will convene for a three-day conference to discuss topics including global wine and…
Penfolds: The Unfolding of China’s New Trademark Law
A new case that may show the effects of China’s recently updated trademark law made headlines this last week. Treasury Wine Estates reported that the company did not register the Chinese name for Penfolds and is currently engaging in a legal battle with Li Daozhi, an allegedly notorious trademark squatter….
On Reserve Named a Finalist in 2014 Wine Blog Awards “Best Overall Wine Blog” Category
It is quite an honor to share that On Reserve was named one of five finalists in the 2014 Wine Blog Awards category for Best Overall Wine Blog. See 2014 Wine Blog Awards Finalists Are…. I am humbled to be named among many very respected wine bloggers and writers, especially within the “Best Overall Wine Blog”…
District Court Denies Duck Walk’s Motion to Dismiss Against Duckhorn
Last year, California-based Duckhorn Wine Co. filed a complaint against Long Island-based Duck Walk Vineyards alleging consumer confusion and breach of settlement agreement that resolved a prior trademark infringement action between the two parties. See Duckhorn Wine Co. Files a Complaint Against Duck Walk Vineyards Alleging Consumer Confusion on Wine Labels; see also Duckhorn…