Wine Law

Companies and individuals in the wine industry have industry-specific legal obligations which arise out of the production, sale, and purchase of wine and wine-related goods and services.  A number of these obligations are imposed by the Wine Australia Act, such as labelling and record keeping obligations. 

 

Additionally, there are other legal matters to consider including but not limited to:

 

1. insurance related matters, including wine property, winery/winemaker liability, transit insurance and crop insurance;
    

2. taxation obligations, including obligations arising from the wine equalisation tax;
    

3. council obligations, including obligations imposed on cellar doors and vineyards in different States and Territories around Australia;
    

4. trademark and intellectual property disputes, including registration of trademarks and disputes arising from breaches of trademarks and/or passing off of a brand;
    

5. transactions, including the purchase and sale of vineyards, cellar doors, bulk wine and the provision of services; and
    

6. debt related matters.

 

We provide tailored legal services to companies and individuals in the wine industry across a broad range of legal matters.

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What we can do for you:

 

1. Advise you in relation to your obligations under the Wine Australia Act.
    

2. Advise you in insurance related matters which concern your wine business or vineyard.
    

3. Advise you in respect to obligations imposed by the local council on vineyards and cellar doors and represent you in council disputes.
    

4. Assist you with securing a trademark for your wine brand.
    

5. Advise you in respect to taxation matters and represent you in taxation disputes.
    

6. Assist you with transactions relating to the purchase and/or sale of vineyards, cellar doors, wineries and wine related businesses.
    

7. Act for you in relation to defending debt matters and commencing debt collection action.
    

8. Act for you in relation to disputes arising out of the general trade of goods and services in the wine industry. 
    

9. Act for you in relation to disputes arising from breaches of trademarks and passing off. 
    

10. Represent you in disputes brought by other parties and regulators.