Disney backs out of wine promotion - LA Times, 7/28/07

[Darkbeer]

http://www.latimes.com/la-fi-ratwine...la-home-center

Disney's Foster said the pressure to pull the Ratatouille wine had been particularly strong from the California Wine Institute, a San Francisco trade group that represents 950 California wineries. He said domestic vintners were upset that the film promoted a French product.

"The California Wine Institute has been relentless in trying to make this an issue" that it's a French wine, Foster said. "But the entire movie is based on a French restaurant and French food and wine."

The institute applauded Disney's move and denied that it had any problem with the Ratatouille wine's Gallic appellation. "We would have been just as upset if it were a California wine," said Nancy Light, an institute spokeswoman.

She said her group complained to Disney because the Ratatouille label, with Remy holding a rat-sized glass of wine, appeared to violate the spirit of the code of advertising standards that all institute members must follow. The code bans the use of any advertising that might appeal to people below the legal drinking age by using photos of very young models or cartoon characters, Light said.

"We were in touch with [Disney]. We basically shared the code with them," she said. The institute also voiced its concerns with the attorneys general of various states, Light added.

In a separate, unrelated action, regulators at the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said last week that they had opened an investigation into whether the Disney-Costco wine marketing program might have violated state liquor laws. Matthew Seck, chief of the trade enforcement unit, said he expected to close the inquiry once he got a formal notice from Disney that it no longer planned to sell the Ratatouille wine.

[Melonballer]

Well rats to that. My Mom and I were looking forward to getting some Ratatouille wine.

[mouseinphilly]

*Applauds decision* Disney is not in the booze biz.

Disney is in the entertainment (mostly aimed at families) biz.

[kirbilicious]

*Applauds decision* Disney is not in the booze biz.

Disney is in the entertainment (mostly aimed at families) biz.

I would say booze falls under entertainment

[k_peek_2000]

I am glad what Disney is doing. Cleaning there bad reputation. With Booze and smoking. Go Disney! Even though after I saw smoking and drinking in a few Disney movies recently I've been hooked and need special counseling and have been to rehab nearly 3 times. I am happy Disney is doing this.

[cellarhound]

The problem is this... It actually is an ethical violation in the Wine Institue's Ethical Advertising standards... The problem is that Disney Characters should not be used to advertise an Alcohol product... Even if it is wine, it is a product that is not for children...

[General You]

What about the Children of France? What wine will they have with their supper?

[Cousin Orville]

I will next look forward to the closing of the Cigar Store they have in Downtown Disney WDW.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Wait. It's alright to show Remy drinking a glass of wine in the movie, but he can't appear on a bottle, himself?

When I saw "Ratatouille" in theatres, the auditorium was full of adults. There wasn't a single child there. The only people who I can imagine might have a problem with Ratatouille wine are those who think animated films, and Disney, itself, are just for children.

Walt Disney marketed Mickey Mouse coffee at one time. Coffee is an "adult" beverage that contains copious amounts of the relatively innocuous drug, caffeine. So, Ratatouille wine, containing the drug, alcohol, should be considered in the same way.

A single glass of red wine with a meal has healthful benefits that outweigh any potentially detrimental effects. Moreover, the "Ratatouille" film is about food and France. Wine is an integral part of that subject matter.

[flynnibus]

bah.. if its an issue - just change the label!

Just because it's a Disney movie does not make it a 'kids movie' or advertising to children if its got the movie name.

Sounds to me like the locals got all pissy when the 800lb Gorilla moved in on their game, without using their stuff - even just for a promo.

Disney should have taken the character off the label - continued to use the branding - and told the others to go stick it.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Sounds to me like the locals got all pissy when the 800lb Gorilla moved in on their game, without using their stuff - even just for a promo.

I agree. If the California vintners were smart, they would have embraced Disney's entree into winemaking because the company could have potentially enlarged the market for the beverage.

"The California Wine Institute has been relentless in trying to make this an issue" that it's a French wine, Foster said. "But the entire movie is based on a French restaurant and French food and wine."

The institute applauded Disney's move and denied that it had any problem with the Ratatouille wine's Gallic appellation. "We would have been just as upset if it were a California wine," said Nancy Light, an institute spokeswoman.

"We were in touch with [Disney]. We basically shared the code with them," she said. The institute also voiced its concerns with the attorneys general of various states, Light added.

I don't believe Ms. Light, myself.

Here's a P.D.F. file with the Wine Institute's members, in case you happen to want to boycott them in disapproval of the organization's actions in this instance: http://www.wineinstitute.org/members...rship_list.pdf.

You can also contact the trade organization directly at http://www.wineinstitute.org/about/contact_us.php.

[cellarhound]

I agree. If the California vintners were smart, they would have embraced Disney's entree into winemaking because the company could have potentially enlarged the market for the beverage.

They aren't going to be moved, PI...

It has to do with ETHICS... you are asking people to sacrifice principle... The principle is you don't market wine to kids...

It has nothing to do with it being a California product... And trust me the more you complain, the more firm they are going to be about it, particularly if you try to petition their membership...

My advice is for Disney Consumer Products is to drop this quest...

And buy wine from Silverado Vineyards: The winery owned by the Disney Family... Their Fantasia blend is exceptional... (and not one animate character is on the label.)

[jurgenb52]

While I'm a big fan of Silverado Vineyards (I even created their wikipedia.org page), I'm a little dissapointed by this decision. Change the label, take Remy off and continue with the product tie-in. The wine was supposed to be available this Wednesday so I'm wondering where all those thousands of ready-to-sell bottles will be going.

I'm a wine-o novice, but I was looking forward to this product and don't have any problem with Disney venturing down this path. It'll make even more sense to make the seperation from the film by taking Remy off the label, but I see nothing wrong with a Ratatouille branded wine. It's a brilliant tie-in to such a wonderful film. Silly Americans being so up-tight about the weirdest things.

[jurgenb52]

And buy wine from Silverado Vineyards: The winery owned by the Disney Family... Their Fantasia blend is exceptional... (and not one animate character is on the label.)

It's not the "Disney Family" per say. It is Diane Disney Miller and Ron Miller's vineyards and has no connection to Disney or the rest of the family. It is totally seperate from anything to do with the company. It is amazing wine though as I said before.

[TrojanSkippa]

I will next look forward to the closing of the Cigar Store they have in Downtown Disney WDW.

PLease tell me that they aren't closing the cigar store...that's part of my WDW tradition! ! !