California Company Announces Labeling Changes

The controversy over wine bottled in California with Oregon grapes appears to be coming to an end.  The California company accused of putting misleading labels on wines to make it appear they were produced in Oregon’s famed pinot noir region says it will change labels after selling the remaining 900,000 bottles.

Joe Wagner of Rutherford, CA-based Copper Cane LLC said the Napa Valley winery will put new labels on two brands of wine made with Oregon grapes.  Wagner told Capital Press that the wines called Elouan and The Willametter Journal will get new labels saying the wines are grown in Oregon and made in California.  If a wine label claims or implies it’s from an American Viticultural Area within Oregon, 95% of the grapes must be from that appellation of origin.

Oregon wine producers say the state’s $5.6 billion wine industry needs to be protected from false claims.

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