Comments on: Let’s Make Some Rules http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:43:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Thomas Pellechia http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-48022 Thomas Pellechia Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:54:35 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-48022 Mike, "Current law prohibits use of the word “mature” (even if the wine is), but allows “old” to be used all willy-nilly." That's because, unlike in Europe, the TTB's regulations are established mainly to collect taxes. They sometimes appear to be concerned about quality--but they are concerned about the money! It is, after all, a branch of Treasury not of Ag and Markets. In Europe, regulations were established with quality and authenticity in mind. In the beginning, the industry worked with government to come up with the rules. Mike,

“Current law prohibits use of the word “mature” (even if the wine is), but allows “old” to be used all willy-nilly.”

That’s because, unlike in Europe, the TTB’s regulations are established mainly to collect taxes. They sometimes appear to be concerned about quality–but they are concerned about the money! It is, after all, a branch of Treasury not of Ag and Markets.

In Europe, regulations were established with quality and authenticity in mind. In the beginning, the industry worked with government to come up with the rules.

]]> By: Mike http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47918 Mike Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:14:53 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47918 As evidence of the government's ability to parse words: Current law prohibits use of the word "mature" (even if the wine is), but allows "old" to be used all willy-nilly. As evidence of the government’s ability to parse words:

Current law prohibits use of the word “mature” (even if the wine is), but allows “old” to be used all willy-nilly.

]]> By: Mike http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47917 Mike Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:10:53 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47917 An appropriate standard would likely be similar to those that exist for advertising and marketing, in general. The appropriate ethical (if not always legally implemented) test is two-pronged. First, what is the impression the marketer wishes to achieve in the mind of consumers with this word? Second, is this impression, in fact, true? Putting a "sale" sign on an item implies a temporary discount, which is why its use is regulated, and one cannot simply attach the sign to regular prices. If "reserve" is added to suggest limited quantities, greater qualities, and special treatment, then it is obviously inappropriate when those conditions are not present. Now asking the government to step in is another thing entirely... An appropriate standard would likely be similar to those that exist for advertising and marketing, in general. The appropriate ethical (if not always legally implemented) test is two-pronged. First, what is the impression the marketer wishes to achieve in the mind of consumers with this word? Second, is this impression, in fact, true? Putting a “sale” sign on an item implies a temporary discount, which is why its use is regulated, and one cannot simply attach the sign to regular prices. If “reserve” is added to suggest limited quantities, greater qualities, and special treatment, then it is obviously inappropriate when those conditions are not present.

Now asking the government to step in is another thing entirely…

]]> By: Gabrio Tosti http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47539 Gabrio Tosti Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:21:04 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47539 I think that define a word like Riserva is to simplify the consumer life: The term Riserva or Superiore means that the wine has to follow certain growing and aging rules so that the consumer knows exactly how the wine is made with just one word. I do not see a dictatorial concept in designation but just a way to agree on terminology and giving a real meaning to a word otherwise meaningless. Buona Bevuta a Tutti www.de-vino.blogspot.com www.de-vino.com I think that define a word like Riserva is to simplify the consumer life:
The term Riserva or Superiore means that the wine has to follow certain growing and aging rules so that the consumer knows exactly how the wine is made with just one word.
I do not see a dictatorial concept in designation but just a way to agree on terminology and giving a real meaning to a word otherwise meaningless.
Buona Bevuta a Tutti
http://www.de-vino.blogspot.com
http://www.de-vino.com

]]> By: Thomas Pellechia http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47432 Thomas Pellechia Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:55:00 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47432 Mike Every time I see the word "reserve" on a label I think of two things: oak, and the word "natural" found on food labels. ;) Mike

Every time I see the word “reserve” on a label I think of two things: oak, and the word “natural” found on food labels. ;)

]]> By: Big Mike http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47320 Big Mike Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:20:50 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47320 Thomas Point well made! I guess I could not see the forest for the trees. It still bugs me. Thomas

Point well made! I guess I could not see the forest for the trees. It still bugs me.

]]> By: Thomas Pellechia http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47281 Thomas Pellechia Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:28:40 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47281 Big Mike, "I hate intervention, in anything, by government but this one screams to stop the madness." That's exactly what I mean: one person's cutoff is another person's irritation. You can't have intervention and then not have intervention and you can't please all the interventionists or non-interventionists even if you could have it both ways. Regulate the word "reserve," and soon someone will want to regulate the word "aged," and then another word, and another...not that I don't think it's a good idea to regulate "reserve," just that I would not want to stop there. Big Mike,

“I hate intervention, in anything, by government but this one screams to stop the madness.”

That’s exactly what I mean: one person’s cutoff is another person’s irritation. You can’t have intervention and then not have intervention and you can’t please all the interventionists or non-interventionists even if you could have it both ways.

Regulate the word “reserve,” and soon someone will want to regulate the word “aged,” and then another word, and another…not that I don’t think it’s a good idea to regulate “reserve,” just that I would not want to stop there.

]]> By: Big Mike http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47256 Big Mike Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:28:24 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47256 Fredric, As someone who deals with this issue on a daily basis, thank you for this post. The wines using “Reserve”, or some form of it on the labels, has numbed the buying public to the “real” reserves wines we sell. I hate intervention, in anything, by government but this one screams to stop the madness. I read a post, on another site, talking about wanting to The Wine Guru. Man I wish you or he were it. Great post as always and I can’t wait for the Old Vine post! Keep up the great work. Fredric,

As someone who deals with this issue on a daily basis, thank you for this post. The wines using “Reserve”, or some form of it on the labels, has numbed the buying public to the “real” reserves wines we sell. I hate intervention, in anything, by government but this one screams to stop the madness. I read a post, on another site, talking about wanting to The Wine Guru. Man I wish you or he were it. Great post as always and I can’t wait for the Old Vine post! Keep up the great work.

]]> By: Thomas Pellechia http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-47223 Thomas Pellechia Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:13:24 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/13/lets-make-some-rules/#comment-47223 The trouble with a conversation about rules is the same as the trouble with a conversation about ratings numbers. One person's cutoff of the rules (numbers) is another person's irritation. For example: some want "reserve" to be controlled but don't want TTB to necessarily make stringent rules that many European wine regions "used to" live under (a lot don't any longer). I like stringency, mainly because when there's a lapse in one area, it tends to foment lapses in another area, which brings me to the lapsed "reserve..." The trouble with a conversation about rules is the same as the trouble with a conversation about ratings numbers. One person’s cutoff of the rules (numbers) is another person’s irritation.

For example: some want “reserve” to be controlled but don’t want TTB to necessarily make stringent rules that many European wine regions “used to” live under (a lot don’t any longer).

I like stringency, mainly because when there’s a lapse in one area, it tends to foment lapses in another area, which brings me to the lapsed “reserve…”

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