A Los Angeles law firm has filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court ($VIP subscriber content) against E. &.J Gallo and French company Sieur d ‘Arques alleging that the two companies engaged in unfair competition, false advertising, and fraud in the bottling, distribution, and sale of the Red Bicyclette line French wines represented as […]
Jan. Nielsen Data: $20+ Revives, Domestic Brands Outpace Imports Almost 7:1
February 25, 2010
While neither the recession nor bargain-basement mania have run their course, Nielsen Company data from January shows a lot of life at higher price points. The news is good overall with all wines monitored by scanner data rising 5.1 percent for the four week period ending Feb. 6. That aggregated number, however, hides some interesting […]
Cosentino Gets Brief CDFA License Suspension
Cosentino Signature Enterprises LLC has had its processor’s license suspended for three months for failing to pay winegrape growers for fruit purchased from the 2008 vintage. The suspension begins March 1. The company, which owns Cosentino Winery among other brands, will not legally be able to purchase grapes until the end of May. Agatha D’Esterhazy, […]
Diamond Oaks Vineyard Transfer Not Fraud Judge Rules
Dinesh Maniar’s transfer of two Napa Valley Vineyard Properties to Diamond Oaks Vineyards shortly before its Chapter 11 filing was legitimate estate-planning and not fraud as alleged in an October 2009 bankruptcy court proceeding. CLOSE TIMING OF VINEYARD TRANSFERS AND CH11 AT ISSUE According to court documents,in February 2007, Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company […]
Cosentino: Legal, Regulatory Hurdles Mount
February 20, 2010
Cosentino Winery’s legal, regulatory and financial hurdles continue to mount with: The VA Filtration trial which opened Feb. 18. Carpenter Ranch lawsuit scheduled for trial May 14. An imminent CDFA decision on whether or not to revoke its license to buy winegrapes. Two lawsuits by wine brokers claiming unpaid commissions. A major judgment obtained by […]
W.J. Deutsch-Renwood Legal War Worthy Of A Grisham Novel
February 16, 2010
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one of Wine Industry Insight’s longer articles. But even at more than 2,300 words, it is impossible to do more than touch on some of the more prominent aspects of this very complicated litigation. Because of this, we have included links to far more than the average number of full legal […]
Harlan Purchase of Diamond Oaks Winery Could be Undone By Court
February 8, 2010
Bill Harlan’s purchase of the Diamond Oaks Winery from Dinesh Maniar could be undone if a bankruptcy judge determines that the property belongs to the estate of other Maniar businesses currently in Chapter 11. Diamond Oaks Vineyards along with two other Maniar companies — SF-based Montgomery Realty Group and Southland Thoroughbred Farms in Riverside County […]