A small-scale wine producer in Italy's Campania region has drawn the attention of Moet Hennessy-owned Champagne house Veuve Clicquot over the colour of its labels.
Italian winemaker Ciro Picariello has encroached on the trademarked ‘Clicquot Yellow’ colour, the Champagne house claimed.
Contrary to many media reports, Clicquot said in a statement released to decanter.com that it has not filed formal legal action against the Italian producer, which owns seven hectares and makes around 3,000 bottles per year of sparkling wine from Fiano d’Avellino grapes, alongside its main wine.
‘Veuve Clicquot approached Ciro Picariello at the end of 2013 to inform them of the similarity between the colours of their labels, and requested if the Ciro Picariello label colour could evolve to avoid any risk of association between the two products,’ the Champagne house said.
It added that the two parties have entered ‘amicable discussions’.
A twitter protest campaign has started in Italy under the hashtag #boicottalavedova, or ‘boycott the widow’, referring to the widowed Madame Clicquot who built the group’s international reputation. The French word ‘veuve’ translates to ‘widow’ in English.
Ciro Picariello declined to comment. Some Italian media sites have suggested that the producer’s label is orange rather than yellow.
Veuve Clicquot said it works extensively to protect its trademark rights worldwide. ‘The Clicquot Yellow colour is trademarked in the European Union, US and Australia,’ it said.
Written by Chris Mercer
