SOLEDAD, Calif. -- Alabama's ban of a wine featuring a nude nymph on the label could produce a financial windfall for the California vintner in Soledad.
The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board recently sent a letter to stores and restaurants, telling them to quit serving Cycles Gladiator wine because of the nude nymph on the label.
Bill Leigon, president of Hahn Family Wines said Thursday that visits to the company's Web site have increased tenfold since news of the ban broke late last week. He said callers from across the country have been inquiring about where they can buy the wine.
He is preparing store displays that said "Banned in Bama" and he's anticipating a significant increase in sales.
Leigon said the wine had remained available in Alabama after the label was rejected last year because he was unaware of the rejection. He said that when the ABC Board's letter went out, all the wine was picked up from stores and restaurants.
The problem with the label were first reported by the Mobile Press-Register.
Leigon could change the label and resume sales in Alabama, but he said he won't.
"It is a gorgeous piece of work," he said.
On The Web:
http://www.cyclesgladiator.com//index.cfm