Napa Valley the Center of Newest Quack-up
The Robertson family of Duck Dynasty fame has a deal with Trinchero Family Estates, a large Napa Valley winery that owns Sutter Home, to make and market Duck Commander brand of wines. This has laid an egg with Duckhorn Wine Company, another Napa Valley family winery, which is now suing Trinchero and Duck Commander, Inc. owned by the Robertson family.
Duckhorn was founded in 1976 by Dan and Margret Duckhorn. They have always had a lot of fun playing off their name. In addition to Duckhorn Vineyards, the company owns and markets famous brands such as Paraduxx, Decoy, Goldeneye, and Migration, all very duck related. Their labels feature a duck. Duckhorn argues that the duck motif is inextricably linked to their brand and Duck Commander wines will cause “confusion, dilution and reputational and other harm” to Duckhorn.
Duck Commander wines retail for $9.99 at Wal-Mart, which is also named in the suit. Duckhorn’s wines are priced from $25.00 to $95.00. But as Duckhorn points out, many retailers display wines in alphabetical order which could put Duckhorn Vineyards and Duck Commander side by side. Both wines are produced in St. Helena adding to the confusion. Neither side is commenting on the pending litigation.
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