The City of Cape Town is to make changes to its new Liquor Trading Days and Hours by-law. The law, which was approved on July 28th of this past year, will now allow hotels within the city to to sell wine and other alcoholic beverages until 2 AM. The law,…
Category: International Wine Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law: War on Terroir
The Chicago-Kent College of Law Intellectual Property Law Society recently presented a lecture on geographical indications pertinent to wine law titled, “Geographical Indications of Origin and Trademark Law as they Pertain to Artisanal Cheese and Wine.” The professors featured in the following lecture are Professors Sarah Harding and Christopher Buccafusco….
New Composition Regulations for Swiss and Chinese Wines
Two countries—China and Switzerland—recently changed their rules with respect to composition of certain wine products. China altered its rules with about sulfites in wine products to ease international commerce. The Chinese Health Department created an amendment and presented it to the Chinese legislature to revise the rulings on food additives….
The TRIPS Agreement and the Wine Industry
When considering international relations with respect to the wine industry, most literature recites the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (commonly called the “TRIPS Agreement”). Generally speaking, the TRIPS Agreement creates standards of intellectual property (“IP”) regulation amongst other members of the World Trade Organization (“WTO”). This agreement…
Agreement Between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine
Just to clarify a prior post of On Reserve, the 1994 wine agreement between the European Community and Australia that prevented Australia from producing wine of particular GIs did name several of the wines mentioned in the most recent agreement between the two powers. These GIs, under Article 8 of…
Class Action Law Suit Against Constellation Brands Inc. for the Sale of Fraudulent Pinot Noir
Over the last few months, there has been an ongoing class action claim against Constellation Brands Inc. (of Victor, NY) for selling fraudulent Pinot noir in the United States from a French supplier. Constellation Brands is one of the largest sellers and manufacturers of wine in the world and sells…
Australia Adopts EU’s Geographical Indication System
This last week, Australia signed an agreement with the European Union to comply with the geographical indication (“GI”) system of the EU. The new agreement replaces an agreement signed in 1994 between the two wine powers and protects eleven of the EU drink labels and 112 of the Australian GI’s….
In Vino Veritas: In Wine There is Truth
In recent years, China has become one of the greatest markets for American wine exports. In 2003, China imported over 1.2 millions liters of American wines, making it the 24th largest market for American wine exports. (See New Opportunities in China for American Wine Producers.) In May of this last…
New Zealand Alcohol Laws Have Correct Objective but Incorrect Means
The recent liquor law reforms of New Zealand’s government aim to restrict the amount of underage drinking and dispose of the country’s underage drinking culture. However, the changes to New Zealand’s laws reportedly punish the wrong individuals, forbidding dairy and convenience stores from obtaining the proper license to sell alcohol,…
South African Wine Reports May Be Premature
Last week, a proposal to “water down” South African wines was created by Wine Cellars South Africa. The proposal seeks to change South African wine legislation and legalize adding water to grape must in “controlled quantities before fermentation.” (See South African Wine Plan Breaches European Laws.) This proposal aims to reduce…