A recent legal case, Consorzio di Tutela della Denominazione di Origine Controllata Prosecco v Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated [2023] SGCA 37, the Singapore Court of Appeal granted Consorzio’s application to register “Prosecco” as a Geographical Indication (“GI”) which designates wine originating from Italy. This represents a significant interpretation of the…
Tag: geographical indications
Russia Permits the Word Champagne on Russian Sparkling Wines
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…
2017 Wine & Law Program at the University of Reims in Champagne, France
In October, I had the great pleasure of visiting the Champagne region and teaching a course on U.S. Trademark Law at the University of Reims’ Wine & Law Program. The University of Reims’ Wine & Law Program is directed by Professor Theodore Georgopoulos and consists of a full-year program (Master’s Degree)…
2015 Wine & Law Program at the University of Reims in Champagne, France
This summer, I had the absolute honor of being invited to attend the University of Reims’ Wine & Law Program in Champagne, France as a faculty member. I attended this same program several years ago when I was still a student in law school and had an incredible experience, one that…
Proposed Establishment of the “Champlain Valley of New York” Viticultural Area
TTB is accepting comments through August 31, 2015 on a proposed American Viticultural Area (“AVA”) called “Champlain Valley of New York,” as per a proposed rule in the Federal Register on June 30, 2015. The proposed AVA is as follows: The petition proposing the new AVA was sent to TTB by Colin…
Arcata Not Primarily Geographically Deceptively Misdescriptive of Wine
In a recent TTAB decision, the Board found that Arcata was not primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive of wine. The Applicant, D’Andrea Family Limited Partnership, sought to register the mark ARCATA in standard character form for “Wine” in International Class 33. In re D’Andrea Family Limited Partnership, Serial No. 85834204 (Oct….
NOPA vs. Napa: A Wine Trademark Opposition
Recently, a Portuguese wine company, Wine Vision Lda. sought to register the mark “NOPA” in standard characters for “wines” through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Napa Valley Vintners Association (“NVVA”) filed a notice of opposition with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Napa Valley Vintners Association v. Wine…
Yamanashi: The First Japanese Geographical Indication for Wine
On July 16, 2013, the Director General of the Tax Agency of Japan announced the designation of Yamanashi as the first Japanese geographical indication (“GI”) for wine. “To be allowed to carry the name of Yamanashi, wine needs to use only limited kinds of grape from Yamanashi, including Koshu and…
Napa Valley Receives Geographical Indication Status in Brazil
Recently, Napa Valley Vintners Association (“NVVA”) announced that Brazil has formerly recognized that Napa Valley is of Geographical Indication (“GI”) status. Brazil will now protect Napa Valley from misuse of the wine region’s name within Brazil’s borders. (See Napa Valley Vintners Announce GI Status Approval in Brazil.) The news was announced…
TTB Proposes the Establishment of the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Viticultural Area
What is the proposal for establishing the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA? On May 8, 2012, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) announced a proposal for establishing an American Viticultural Area (“AVA”) for the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley in Douglas, Grant, and Kittitas Counties in central Washington. The notice…