EU blocks some California wine imports

• From the New York Times:

Europeans, who have long chafed at California wineries using geographic terms like Champagne and Chablis to describe their wines, have banned the importation of some U.S. wines using such terms as "clos" and "chateau" on wine labels.

Those French words, along with other terms like "classic," "tawny," "noble," "ruby" and "vintage," are all strictly regulated wine terms in Europe, with specific rules for who gets to use them and when.

Now, the European Union is contending that U.S. vintners must adhere to the same EU rules for wines using terms regarded as "traditional expressions" in order to avoid confusion.

The wine trade spat could affect a number of California wine brands including one of Sonoma County's signature wines, Clos du Bois.

"Their justification is that these terms are traditionally used in specific countries and that if other countries used these terms, it creates confusion on the part of consumers," said Joe Rollo, export director for the San Francisco-based trade group Wine Institute.

The EU has been trying to persuade other nations to cease using such terms since 2002, but not very aggressively. It never enforced the 2002 rules, and in 2006, when the last major trade agreement with the United States was struck, American vintners were given a three-year exemption. That waiver ended March 10. U.S. trade officials declined to comment.

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Court case may impact Texas wine sales

• From the Dallas News:

A Dallas case to determine whether Texans can cut out the middleman and buy wine directly from out-of-state stores pits consumers' rights against the state and wholesalers that would suffer a loss of business.

Arguments before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later this month will be closely watched by wine connoisseurs, wholesalers, retailers and legislators because similar lawsuits are springing up all over the country, and the issue is likely to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Wineries Unlimited trade show set

Wineries Unlimited 2009, the largest vineyard and winery trade show and conference east of the Rocky Mountains, has released its schedule for the March 10-13 event.

Two day-long programs will be running concurrently on Friday, March 13, during the event at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA, just outside Philadelphia:

• A workshop on red wine production by Dr. Christian Butzke of Purdue University
• A seminar on winery planning and design by Dr. Bruce Zoecklein of Virginia Tech

The trade show and conference is produced by Vineyard & Winery Management magazine. In addition to the concurrent events, the conference will offer sessions for industry newcomers and two days of multi-track sessions on viticulture, enology and finance/management/marketing.

The buyers' trade show on March 11-12 is for the Eastern wine industry, and will present more than 100,000 square feet of exhibitor space including an anticipated 330 exhibitor booths on two levels of the convention center.

A silent auction will benefit scholarship programs of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture’s eastern section. A live auction will be held at the "Best of the East" grand tasting and gala.

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