Okanagan winemaker puts a cork in punny bottles after Dom Perignon complaint
The self-described scoundrels of Okanagan wine country have pulled one of their most popular sparkling wines after a warning from one of the world’s most famous and prestigious producers, Dom Perignon.
The cheekily-named “Dom and Dommerer” bottles produced by Crown and Thieves winery are now recalled and boxed up in a warehouse because the label sports the same three-pointed shield silhouette as the distinctive French champagne.
“I was walking in the vineyard one day and in the snow I saw these cute little footprints and it had a really neat shape,” said winemaker Jason Parkes. “And the team’s favourite movie is ‘Dumb and Dumber.’”
But when he got a cease and desist letter from the lawyers for the legendary French producer, he knew the light-hearted joke with its duck-foot label had fizzled out.
“I didn't think we'd get away with it for six months, and it's been longer than that,” he said. “They're actually a very, very classy company, all kidding aside, and they’ve been very kind and I think they've seen some of the humour.”
A pricey joke
Parkes, who fronts a punk band in his downtime, eschews the many awards his wines have garnered and continues to grow his offerings with a cidery, a BBQ-themed restaurant, and multiple wine brands.
He’s glad he diversified considering that he wrote off this year’s grape harvest, having seen how small and questionable it would be after a cold snap that has decimated the entire industry. That means he’s under extra pressure to re-brand and re-label the Dom and Dommerer bottles and get them back on the market.
“We’ll just have to come up with something clever and maybe an homage to someone else in some fun way,” Parkes said. “It's valuable, we'll fix it, we'll make it work and be creative.”
An outlier in the industry
It’s typically the craft beer industry that gets in hot water over brewers’ puckish penchant for plays on words and puns that land them in court or pulling products from shelves.
Parkes is clearly a fan of tongue-in-cheek humour as well, with his popular, award-winning network of wineries sporting irreverent names including Pinky Blinders, Auxerrois that Endserrois, and The Greatest Love of Mal, often sporting whimsical watercolour paintings or artwork by his children on the labels.
While a large number of wineries are up for sale in the region given the challenges of repeated droughts, wildfires, and this year’s cold snap, Parkes is intent on sticking it out and hoping for better harvests in the years ahead.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israeli attack on Rafah tent camp kills 45, prompts global outcry
An Israeli airstrike triggered a massive blaze killing 45 people in a tent camp in the Gaza city of Rafah, officials said on Monday, prompting an outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court ruling to halt Israel's assault.
A cross-country look at beer and wine in convenience stores
By Labour Day weekend, Ontarians of legal drinking age could snag a six-pack at their local convenience store on the way to the cottage. But what are alcohol sales like across the country? Here's what we know.
Former 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor fatally shot in Los Angeles
Former 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor was fatally shot in downtown Los Angeles while interrupting thieves Saturday, according to his agent and CNN affiliate KABC.
Kingston, Ont. tenants fed up with lack of action from landlord over broken floor tiles
Joel Felder and Misti Pitcher have been living in their apartment in Kingston, Ont. for over two years, but the past 12 months have been miserable.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
U of T protesters don't plan to pack up, will hold rally at eviction deadline
Pro-Palestinian protesters who have been camped out at the University of Toronto for weeks say they have no plans to honour the terms of a trespass notice issued by the school and clear the demonstration site by 8 a.m. today.
She developed a passion for genealogy while finding her roots. Now she helps others find their own
Lauren Robilliard always knew she was adopted. As the B.C. native grew older, she developed a passion for genealogy, tracing her roots and paving the way for a career to help others find their own.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Papua New Guinea says landslide buried more than 2,000 people
A Papua New Guinea government official has told the United Nations more than 2,000 people were believed to have been buried alive by Friday's landslide and has formally asked for international help.