 Three years after it was introduced in the State, the AABC Board decided to pull the wine from liquor store shelves citing the label as inappropriate. Letters sent to stores throughout the state, quote one of the clauses justifying the ban: ‘No advertisement may include any illustration(s) of any person(s) consuming alcoholic beverages or any person(s) posed in an immodest or sensuous manner, nor shall any advertising contain profanity or offensive language.’
The image had debuted in 1895 as a poster for the then introduced Gladiator bicycles and was done by the French painter G. Massias. Hahn winery has a license to use the poster to promote its wines.
The Hahn Website states, ‘the famed artwork that once showcased the stylish Cycles Gladiator now graces the bottles of our classic wines from California’s Central Coast. The mythological image of the nymph riding her winged bicycle captures the grace and uninhibited beauty of our hillside vineyards.’ Fans of the wine can even purchase T-shirts and cycling gear adorned with the ad.
 Bill Leigon, President of Hahn Family Wines in Soledad, California, said yesterday that visits to the company's Web site have increased tenfold since news of the ban broke late last week, and callers from across the country have been asking where they can buy the wine.
 Earlier, reacting negatively to the ban he had said,’ 'To say that this wine label is pornographic is ridiculous. It's a beautiful piece of art that captures the grace and uninhibited beauty of our hillside vineyards,’ The original poster sells for $50,000 and there are only 4 of them available in original.
Because of the interest, Bill is developing store displays that say "Banned in Bama" and "Taste What They Can't Have in Alabama." He is not worried about the missed sale of 500 cases annually in Alabama as the increase due to the controversy will be manifold.
Five varietals wines are produced under the Cycles Gladiator label – Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Besides, two labels also adorn the More Reserve labels-Chardonnay and Zinfandel. The regular varietals cost $13 whereas the ‘More Reserved’ version is prices at $18
|