This week while we discuss and discover new technologies in wine marketing this weekend in Wine Country, California during the Wine Bloggers Conference 2009, in Alabama the Beverage Control Board has ordered all Cycles Gladiator Wines pulled from all markets in the state of Alabama as the label has been deemed “pornographic“.
In 2006, the Cycles Gladiator wine label went through complete label approval on both the federal and Alabama state level, but only now in 2009 is it being questioned: According to an article released today, July 23, 2009 in Lagniappe online here:
Bill Leigon, president of Hahn Family Wines of Napa Valley, Cal., said the ABC did, in fact, approve the label when the wine came into the market in 2006, but suddenly changed its mind late last year. He said they were unaware of the new ruling until now when it was deemed pornographic. Leigon said this is a new phenomenon for the company, which has sold more than 600,000 cases of Cycles Gladiator across the United States and around the world since 2006. No one else has complained about the label art, he said.
- For full disclosure, I still work for Hahn Family Wines, owner and winery for Cycles Gladiator Wines.
- Cycles Gladiator has been a Top 10 Value Brand 2 years in Wine Business Monthly (2006-2008)
- Cycles Gladiator Wines have been awarded years of Gold Medals throughout the U.S and beyond.
- Cycles Gladiator Wines have received years of great wine reviews and blog posts: Here (Rick Bakas), Here (Dr.Xeno/WineLog) and Here (Cork’d) among many.
- Cycles Wine Supports Cyclists in the Sea Otter Classic, Tour of California and LiveStrong among others.
- The Cycles wine label won an award: The 2006 from the American Graphic Design Award (by GDUSA, which is funny since it is a vintage piece of art from 1895, France).
It has been centuries that cultures have waged argument and discord over what is art and what is porn. How bizarre after the musical Hair (40 years ago), the Piss Christ (20 years ago), Robert Mappelthorpe (30-40 years established) and Madonna’s Sex (17 years ago) among a broad cannon of erotic and provocative art that we can not agree to disagree…yet still maintain our democratic values. But censorship will continue to threaten freedon when politics, morals and religion is in question. Meanwhile, men and women all over the U.S. are celebrating the freedom of Cycles Gladiator, the bicycle, the human body and a healthy lifestyle.
Let’s raise a glass…Cheers.
Stuff like this is why my Birmingham relatives spend all their time here 😉
There’s been a lot of beer labels that have gotten in trouble. Here’s a gallery of some that were banned in Maine, some of which just have humorous Christmas themes. One is a classic French painting, as tasteful as your Cycles label there.
I’m just wondering how long it’s going to be before wine blogs have to have age verification systems like porn sites. Because we all know that simply reading about Sauvignon Blanc is the leading cause of teen pregnancy in this nation.
[…] approval on both the federal and Alabama state level, but only now in 2009 is it being questioned: click for more var _wh = ((document.location.protocol=='https:') ? "https://sec1.woopra.com" : […]
Granted I am a liberal graphic designer but I think banning this lovely label is very narrow minded and hypocritical in light of all the depictions of violence that surround us. I’ve taken up your cause on my own blog and want to say thanks to Hahn Family Wineries for your good taste not to mention your support of cycling. I hope good sense wins out in the end.
Nothing like over-reacting and putting politics first…typical for the south I guess.
Thanks for the blog, interesting stuff
Good Post LIsa – we’ve been selling extra at the shop based on the scandal! 🙂 Thanks for the free press Alabama ABC!
Thanks, folks. Here is more hilarious follow up on wine porn:
http://blog.al.com/jdcrowe/2009/07/porno_wine_label.html
A GREAT one with a slide show of OTHER indecent wine labels:
http://www.examiner.com/x-8216-Omaha-Wine-Examiner~y2009m7d27-Wine-Porn-pt-I
Our Friend from Twisted Oak Winery:
http://www.elbloggotorcido.com/2009/07/oh-the-times-they-are.html
http://steveheimoff.com/
James Laube…
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Main/0,4210,1,00.html
A few posts following up on Wine Label Porn:
James Laube:
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Main/0,4210,1,00.html
http://steveheimoff.com/
http://blog.al.com/jdcrowe/2009/07/porno_wine_label.html
http://www.examiner.com/x-8216-Omaha-Wine-Examiner~y2009m7d27-Wine-Porn-pt-I
And our friend from Twisted Oak Winery:
http://www.elbloggotorcido.com/
Excellent reading…
I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
This did not surprise me at all.
A few posts following up on Wine Label Porn:
James Laube:
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Main/0,4210,1,00.html
http://steveheimoff.com/
http://blog.al.com/jdcrowe/2009/07/porno_wine_label.html
http://www.examiner.com/x-8216-Omaha-Wine-Examiner~y2009m7d27-Wine-Porn-pt-I
And our friend from Twisted Oak Winery:
http://www.elbloggotorcido.com/
Excellent reading…; A few posts following up on Wine Label Porn:
James Laube:
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Main/0,4210,1,00.html
http://steveheimoff.com/
http://blog.al.com/jdcrowe/2009/07/porno_wine_label.html
http://www.examiner.com/x-8216-Omaha-Wine-Examiner~y2009m7d27-Wine-Porn-pt-I
And our friend from Twisted Oak Winery:
http://www.elbloggotorcido.com/
Excellent reading…;;
[…] Lisa de Bruin (aka Wine Diver Girl)’s personal blog [link] […]
“Hi:
Two things
1) I’d like your permission to (re)print your article on “The Goode Family”
for our website
2) I was hoping we could use your ‘scribing’ talent for our website.
The Best Shows Youre Not Watching (dot) com [all one word]
‘The Clone Wars’ is one of our featured shows. We’re hoping to round up a few people who can occasionally contribute perspective (via an article/blog) on the shows – maybe a recent episode, future direction, plot shortcomings etc.
What’s in it for you?
Primarily a larger audience back channeled to your blog. We don’t pay but the site has a lot of promise and we’re pretty excited about getting it off the ground. Let me know what you think.
Thanks
(Best Shows) Watch
By all means, re-print.
On more writing for me…while I do LOVE to write, I have to pass at this time in order to fulfill my current obligations.
Cheers!
Lisa dB/@winedivergirl
[…] who have watched with interest, fanned up with passion or snickered with disbelief about the “Banned in ‘Bama” issue turned campaign that peaked as the summer was pedaling to its […]
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