We recently reported on the increased appearance of creative trademarks for wine, based on applications to the Canadian Trade-marks Registrar over the last few months. Thanks to the creative talents of wine marketing trendsetters like B.C.’s own Bernie Hadley-Beauregard of Brandever Strategies, this movement appears to be continuing.

Recent applications include some animal references such as SPEEDY TURTLE (Application No. 1,299,250), FOUR EMUS & Design (Application No. 1,280,221), CAT’S TAIL (Application No. 1,305,983) and RED KANGAROO (Application No. 1,277,928).

Many Canadian companies have taken the lead with some less traditional names for wine appearing as recently advertised marks in the Canadian Trade-marks Journal. They include: from Ontario, BARE NAKED (Application No. 1,302,240, but apparently opposed by Bear Naked, Inc.), and from Québec, SEXY LIZARD (Application No. 1,299,249) and LOST BIKINI (Application No. 1,299,255), giving new meaning to the phrase “in vino veritas“. Other applications showing a little more restraint include LITTLE BLACK DRESS (Application No. 1,282,547) and QUEEN OF HEARTS & Design (Application No. 1,300,388).

Despite the move to more creative wine brands, the more prevalent trend seems to be in favour of old world references. Many recent applications for trade-marks for wines in Canada refer to the foreign language names of origin, invoking images of warm Mediterranean climates and rambling vineyards and include: from France, TERRA DI CORSICA (Application No. 1,295,086), from Italy, BELLA TAVOLA (Application No. 1,293,966) and TORRAE DEL SALE (Application No. 1,303,138), from Spain, GRAN SANGRE DE TORO (Application No. 1,287,621), GRAN VIÑA SOL (Application No. 1,287,627) and MAS LA PLANA (Application No. 1,287,622), from Portugal QUINTA NOVA DE NOSSA SENHORA DO CARMO (Application No. 1,287,990), from Quebec, AMBROZZI DI CHANTIO (Application No. 1,264,858), from Argentina VALLE PERDIDO & Design (Application No. 1,295,840). ¡Salud!