In the legal dispute about the use of the wine-related designations "Réserve" resp. "Reserve" the highest administrative court in Germany has handed down a judgment, but has not clarified the matter.

As decided by the high court in Leipzig in response to a plea by a wine producer in the German federal state of Rheinland-Pfalz, designations such as "Riserva", "Reserva" and "Reserve" definitely not permitted on German wine labels, as they are protected in individual member countries of the EU (Italy, Spain and Austria). At the same time the judges ruled that under certain circumstances, terms such as "Réserve", "Grande Réserve" or "Private Reserve" could be permissible, so long as the consumer is not being misled. Whether this is the case in the current court proceedings must now be decided by a lower court.

This means that this complex case, which has already come before the European Court, is slowly winding down. However, it remains completely open whether the applicant will eventually be able to fulfil his dream of selling his wines as "Réserve" wines. (WF)