Calif. winery to alter wine names after Oregon complains

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A 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, California,-based Copper Cane LLC says the Napa Valley winery will put new labels on two brands of wine made with Oregon grapes.

Wagner tells the Capital Press in a story on Friday 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 percent 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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Information from: Capital Press, http://www.capitalpress.com/washington