Domaine Carneros Sued Over Vineyard Name

Nov 21, 2014

(WineSpectator) - The owners of a small Sonoma vineyard, Terra de Promissio on the Sonoma Coast, have filed a trademark infringement suit in U.S. District Court against Domaine Carneros, the sparkling wine producer owned by Champagne house Taittinger, for their use of La Terre Promise as a vineyard designate.

“Our hope is that we can come to an equitable resolution,” said Charles Karren, who co-owns Terra de Promissio with his wife, Diana. “Consumers and trade people are coming to us and pointing out the confusion. That’s why you have a trademark.”

Domaine Carneros winemaker Eileen Crane preferred to not comment on any of the details of the case. “It looks like it’s going to court, and that’s the proper place to have it handled,” she said.

The Karrens purchased a ranch in Petaluma in 1999 and started planting 50 acres of Pinot Noir in 2002. They named their vineyard “Terra de Promissio,” or “Land of Promise.” Diana, who was born in the former Soviet Union, said they considered many different names for the vineyard, but kept coming back to the idea that America is the land of promise. They trademarked the name in 2007.

Terra de Promissio sells its Pinot Noir fruit to 10 different wineries, seven of whom have used it as a single-vineyard designate, including Lynmar, Siduri and Williams Selyem. It was also one of the grape sources for Kosta Browne’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2009, which was named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2011. In 2013, the Karrens started making their own Terra de Promissio Pinot Noir.

About two years ago, according to the Karrens, people began asking them if they sold grapes that went into Domaine Carneros’ La Terre Promise Pinot Noir. Domaine Carneros is primarily a sparkling wine house that also makes still wines.

Also planted in 2002, La Terre Promise is a 177-acre Carneros Pinot Noir Vineyard. Crane said that the name came up because the land had been under long-term lease, so it was “promised” that they had the first option to buy. “Logically, it meant that to me,” said Crane. The domaine trademarked the vineyard's name in 2009, something the Karrens say they were unaware of.

According to the Karrens they approached Domaine Carneros about the confusion and negotiated an agreement where Domaine Carneros would agree to stop using La Terre Promise and in exchange the Karrens would allow Domaine Carneros to sell out the rest of their 2011 and 2012 inventory of the wine. But before papers were signed, the Karrens claim Domaine Carneros changed their mind.

As part of the lawsuit, the Karrens assert that Domaine Carneros’ trademark registration is intentionally mistranslating the French phrase “La Terre Promise” as “The Earth’s Promise,” when it really should be “The Promised Land.” The document suggests this was to avoid conflict with a prior registered trademark for “Promised Land” in the wine and spirits category, owned by Taylors Wines in Australia.


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