Wine, despite its many centuries of history, is still expanding with respect to publications defining its legal context. A general Westlaw or LexisNexis search yields [American] case law dating back one hundred years ago or longer, in addition to journal and law review articles. A generic Google or search engine…
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.
Granholm v. Heald and the Wine Industry
General Information on Granholm In the 2005 opinion of Granholm v. Heald, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5–4 decision that state laws allowing in-state wineries to make direct sales to customers but effectively authorizing out-of-state wineries to make sales only through wholesalers at a greater expense are unconstitutional. The…
New York Governor Signs Bill to Help Vineyards
New York Governor Paterson recently signed 83 bills into law. (See Governor Paterson Signs 83 Bills into Law.) Among them, A.915-A/S.5501, is most significant to new or replanted vineyards (and orchards) in New York State. The bill, which was authored by Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, streamlines the current property tax exemption…
Don’t Tamper with my Brunello di Montalcino
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…
Wine and Law International Study Program
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,…
In Support of Pending New York Wine Legislation…
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 There a Future for the Three-Tier Alcohol Beverage Distribution System?
The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 by the 21st Amendment of the United States Constitution not only reinstated the legality of alcohol beverage consumption, but also introduced a new system for alcohol beverage distribution: the three-tier system. The three-tier system creates a platform between alcohol beverage producers, distributors, and retailers….
Wölffer Estate Vineyard
Happy Saturday from On Reserve. Featured Vineyard: Wölffer Estate of Sagaponack, NY. Wölffer Estate of Sagaponack, NY
New York Corks Food Festival Wine Sales Bill
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…
Welcome to On Reserve: A Wine Law Blog
On Reserve: A Wine Law Blog discusses the legal issues of the wine industry, offering insight to contemporary and historical issues.