Duckhorn – a complete nonsense to sue over 'duck'

Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 

Duck Commander Triple Threat Red Blend

Looks like the silly season, normally confined to August, has started eight months early with the news that Duckhorn is suing Sutter Home Winery and Wal-Mart claiming that the recently launched Duck Commander range are too close to their own name and labels. 

I can't see that Duckhorn's claim has any merit. How can you claim a right over the name 'Duck'? The two labels above have little in common, so it is difficult how consumers could be confused. Perhaps Duckhorn took the 'Triple Threat' name too seriously?

If Duckhorn are looking to sue duck look-a-likes then the great Luis Pato ought to be a target as the ducks featured on the respective labels have some resemblances.      

Luis Pato's Vinha Formal – Pato is Portuguese for 

duck hence the duck on the label

Hopefully the relevant judge will throw out the Duckhorn case as having absolutely no merit. If it does have any merit then will we, for instance, see Latour suing La Tour de By and many other La Tours, Lafite suing Laffitte-Teston etc. In the Loire this would be a gift to ther legal profession with Mabileau suing Mabileau, Crochet suing lots of other Crochets, Riffault doing the same etc with their namesakes and many other examples.

No this Duckhorn case joins the list of infamously no merit wine related legal cases, which include:

         * Gallo's suit against Chianti Classico's Gallo Nero

* Veuve Clicquot's suit against Tasmanian 

sparkling wine producer Stefano Lubiano

* Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC)'s 

suit against the Swiss village of Champagne          

European Wine Bloggers' Conference 2011 (#EWBC): post trip to Chianti: 17th October

Detail of Santa Maria al Prato Convent

17^th October 2011

Santa Maria al Prato Convent

Our first stop was the new headquarters of the Chianti Classico Consorzio in Radda in Chianti in the Santa Maria al Prato Convent. The Consorzio bought this building ten years ago. It needed extensive renovation and these finished the day before our arrival. The attractive little town of Radda is very significant in the history of Chianti Classico as it was here in the Hotel Vignale that the Consorzio was founded in 1924.

Marco Pallanti

We were welcomed by Marco Pallanti, the president of the Consorzio and one of the owners of the Castello di Ama estate, and by Silvia Fiorentini, marketing and communications manager for the Consorzio. The Santa Julia building will be used for receptions, conferences etc. It won’t, however, be the Consorzio’s offices. These are currently in the birthplace of Machiavelli but will be moving soon to new premises close to the main road between Florence and Sienna as the space has become too cramped.

 Silvia Fiorentini

The more significant piece of news for wine drinkers is that the Chianti producers are looking to add a third tier to the Chianti Classico hierarchy. Although no details were given it looks like this will be like a system of crus or Chianti ‘Villages’. The announcement will be made next year. This may help top Chiantis leapfrog the often disappointing and pricey ‘super Tuscans'. Given the producers’ pride in the area and the emphasis on the region’s terroir, it remains surprising that for many producers their most expensive wines are IGTs, often starring Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and not their Chiantis. 

 Pouring glasses of Chianti 

 Gallo Nero

A liquid dictator!