Archive for the ‘Feuds’ Category
The Other Side of the Broadbent Settlement
October 15th, 2009 by Tom Johnson
Benjamin Wallace, author of The Billionaire’s Vinegar (background here and here) disputes the notion that the settlement between Michael Broadbent and the book’s publisher constitutes an admission that the book’s depiction of Broadbent was libelous. Wallace corresponds with Dr. Vino:
I was never personally sued by Mr. Broadbent, and I am not a party to the [...]
Tags: Books, Feuds, wine, wine collecting
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The Difference Being That the Fights Between Sommeliers Are Real
October 15th, 2009 by Tom Johnson
The Philadelphia Wine School promotes a food and wine pairing competition as the “Sommelier Smackdown” and professional wrestling threatens a lawsuit.
“The WWE has been the registered owner of the trademark SmackDown for entertainment purposes for many, many years,” said K&L Gates partner Jerry McDevitt, who represents the WWE. “We sent a letter saying, ‘Guess what, [...]
Tags: Feuds, Marketing, wine
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Broadbent Vindicated
October 14th, 2009 by Tom Johnson
Michael Broadbent, one of the most knowledgeable people in the wine business and the former head of Christie’s considerable wine department, has won his libel case against the publisher of The Billionaire’s Vinegar. (Background here.) Made to look like something of a boob in the book, Broadbent sued Random House in England, where the lack [...]
Tags: Feuds, wine, wine collecting
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Havin’ a Blue With the Aussies
August 13th, 2009 by Tom Johnson
Having lost a six year legal spitting contest with the Napa Valley Vinters over his propensity for selling “Napa” wine made from central valley grapes, wine industry bad boy Fred Franzia apparently needed another lawsuit to keep his obstreperal muscles toned. Franzia, the CEO of Bronco Wines, is now embroiled a lawsuit with the Australian [...]
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It’s Creepy How Well These People Know Me. It’s Like They’re Living Inside My Head.
July 30th, 2009 by Tom Johnson
Anthony Dias Blue, editor of online wine publication The Tasting Panel, unloads on people like me:
And who are these bloggers anyway and, more important, what is their motivation? It would be comforting to find that they are altruistic wine lovers who see their purpose as bringing insight and valuable information to like-minded consumers. But the [...]
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I Guess This Doesn’t Quite Count as a Petty Wine Feud, but It’s Close
July 30th, 2009 by Tom Johnson
If you haven’t read Billionaire’s Vinegar yet, read it. It reads like a whodunnit, telling the true story of the biggest wine fraud in history, the forgery and subsequent sale of “lost” bottles of wine from Thomas Jefferson’s cellar.
A key player in the book is Michael Broadbent, who at the time of the forgeries ran [...]
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