Oregon Lawmakers Look at Ways to Protect State Wide

Lawkamers in Salem are looking at protecting the name of Oregon wine.  Experts testified in Monday in Salem that Oregon pinot noir is so popular that some winemakers elsewhere are making false links to the state's viticultural areas for their own wines, and might be breaking the law.

Representative David Gomberg said during Monday’s hearing he observed wine made in California labeled as an Oregon coast pinot noir.  That variety of grape he said is not grown on the Oregon coast; which is the district he represents in the state House.

Tom Danowski, chief executive officer of the Oregon Winegrowers Association, urged lawmakers to protect Oregon's $5.6 billion wine industry from false claims.  While winemakers elsewhere can import grapes grown in Oregon for their wines, they need to be careful about making claims, witnesses testified before the House interim committee on economic development and trade.  Producers of wine with "fanciful" names that violate regulations could face up to a $25,000 fine for each bottle sold in Oregon, witnesses testified.

Cardboard cases carrying pinot noir from California-based Elouan wines refer to three viticultural areas in Oregon — The Willamette, Rogue and Umpqua valleys. But under Oregon rules, three viticultural areas cannot be cited in one wine. If a wine label claims or implies it's from an American Viticultural Area within Oregon, 95 percent of the grapes must be from that appellation of origin, according to the Oregon Wine Board.

"It's an important topic," Gomberg said. "Labelling matters and marketing matters."

Another pinot noir wine made in California, The Willametter, says on its label that it is sourced from the "Territory of Oregon." But the Territory of Oregon fell out of existence when Oregon became a state in 1859.

Witnesses at the hearing said some out-of-state winemakers need to check their maps and history books.

Elouan wines did not immediately return a phone call or email seeking comment. The San Francisco Chronicle, in an article published recently, called the labelling "fanciful."

Joe Wagner, who runs the Elouan and Willametter brands, denied that he violated any statutes, the newspaper reported.

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