As a graduate of Windows of the World Wine School, how excited I was to see that my friend and teacher Kevin Zraly was on the “Early Show” this morning offering tips on champagne. I couldn’t let 2009 go out without sharing this episode with all my friends, legal eagles, followers and fellow bloggers. Season’s Greetings to each of you and have a wonderful prosperous Happy New Year!! Enjoy!!
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If you’re planning to enjoy wine with your meals, Pennsylvania will soon be offering you a new way to help yourself. Pennsylvania is one of 19 states in which the distribution of alcohol is controlled by state government. As mentioned in my earlier post So Who’s In Control of Pennsylvania’s Alcohol Beverage Industry, alcohol distribution in the state of Pennsylvania is controlled by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).
The PLCB is now going high tech in its plans to distribute alcohol in the state. Over 100 Pennsylvania grocery stores are anticipated to get the state’s new self serve wine dispensing kiosks operated by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Buyers will have to swipe their drivers license and breathe in a breathalyzer prior to purchase.
Are you planning to help yourself to some wine at your local supermarket? If so, for more information read here: Wine Vending Machine Coming To Supermarket.
This fall while on the Bucks County Wine Trail one of my fond memories of the Buckingham Valley Vineyards was the opportunity I had to experience a tasting of an oak aged dry Chambourcin wine. This delightful grape is readily becoming known as “Pennsylvania’s Zinfandel”. This versatile hybrid grape is known to hold up very well in Pennsylvania’s cooler wetter climate. Its a deep colored wine with full aromatic flavors that I plan to pair with my meal festivities this holiday. You too may want to grab yourself an “East Coast Red”. For more information about this grape that is widely becoming known as “Pennsylvania’s Zinfandel”, I enjoyed reading the Times-Tribune.com’s article: Is Breakout Grape Chambourcin Pennsylvania’s Red?
You’ve likely heard the saying “a rose by any other name is still a rose”. Well in a way that can be true in the
business world as well. Especially if you are considering giving your business a “fictitious” name.
Before establishing your winery, wine or hospitality based business, you will want to consider what name to use when forming your new Corporation or Limited Liability Company. While many business owners choose to operate their business under the name they put in their state filed Articles of Incorporation, you may choose for marketing purposes to operate your corporate entity under a name that’s different from the formal name listed in your Articles of Incorporation. Perhaps you have a catchy name in mind for marketing purposes. Or your own name is too long or not savvy enough for purposes of building your brand. If so, consider a “fictitious business name”.
For example, your may be planning to operate a wine event planning business under the name “John Rose Wine Events, LLC and subsequently plan to do business under that name. Alternatively, some business owners like to operate their corporations under a name that’s different from their individual name or formal legal entity name identified in their Articles of Incorporation. This is what is known as a “fictitious business name” or “dba” doing business as name.
For marketing purposes you may prefer to identify your business as “My Wine Sommelier”. Thus, you might alternatively establish your business name as “John Rose Wine Events, LLC, dba My Wine Sommelier.” You could then market your business as “My Wine Sommelier”.
In order to do so, most states require your corporate entity to file a “fictitious” or “assumed” business name and pay a fee. This legal filing allows creditors, customers, and vendors to know that your business operates under a “fictitious name” yet they are still able to identify you as the business owner. In order to protect your chosen name and establish exclusivity, you may consider registering your chosen name as a trademark.
So now, can a rose by any other name still be a rose? Well yes it can. Consider a “fictitious business” or “dba” name and you too could be the next “My Wine Sommelier”.
