California winery, Oregon meet to defuse labeling dispute

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon regulators and a California winery accused of misrepresenting the Oregon origins of its bestselling pinot noir say they’re working to resolve the dispute.

The owner and a vice president of Napa Valley’s Copper Cane winery flew to Portland to meet Wednesday with the executive director of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The commission said last week Copper Cane has committed seven violations with labeling misrepresentations and is seeking to revoke the company’s ability to sell in Oregon.

Jim Blumling, Copper Cane’s vice president of operations, said Thursday that he and owner Joe Wagner had a “collaborative” meeting with liquor commission Executive dDrector Steven Marks.

A spokesman for Marks said it was a good preliminary meeting.

Copper Cane’s pinot noir is made from Oregon grapes trucked to California.