Rattlesnake vineyard in Missoula, Montana selects new name: Ten Spoons

Ten Spoons.

Roll that around on your tongue and taste it. It’s the new name from the vintners formerly known as Rattlesnake Creek.

“It’s a combination of the letters of both of our last names,” said Andy Sponseller, who owns the 21-acre winery in the upper Rattlesnake Creek neighborhood with his partner, Connie Poten.
About two weeks ago, the couple capitulated to a cease-and-desist demand letter from a Washington state winemaker who owns the trademark to the Rattlesnake name. Portteus Winery, of Zillah, Wash., has been making a wine called Rattlesnake Ridge since 1989. In contrast, Rattlesnake Winery has been making wine for only five years.

Prior use carries a lot of weight in trademark disputes. That’s one reason why Missoula trademark attorney Shane Vannatta advised Poten and Sponseller to yield and change to a new, undisputed name.

Under a tentative agreement with Portteus, the couple has a year to sell the remaining boxes of wine with the Rattlesnake Creek brand. They’ll sell the old and move on. Already, they have begun printing corks and labels with the new name.

“That’s the best business decision,” Sponseller said.

By ROBERT STRUCKMAN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/12/21/news/local/news03.txt

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Trademark complaint forces Missoula winery, Rattlesnake Creek Vineyard to find another name. Do you have a suggestion? http://www.matr.net/article-17323.html

Winemaking 101 in the Big Sky – Missoula’s Rattlesnake Creek Vineyard and Winery http://www.matr.net/article-16902.html