Mislabeling of Grapes Alleged in 3 New Suits

SACRAMENTO —  The state has filed three new lawsuits that claim growers and brokers sold inexpensive grapes as premium wine varieties.

“Prosecution of these cases is vital to maintain California’s prestigious postion as an international leader in the billion-dollar wine industry,” said state Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp, who filed the suits on Thursday on behalf of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The suits, filed in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties, seek $2 million in civil penalties in addition to $1.2 million sought by the state in six cases filed earlier this year. (The Times learned Friday that at least three more grape-switching cases are expected to be filed in the next 30 days, all in the San Joaquin Valley.)

‘Essential to Economy’

“It is also essential to California’s agricultural economy that we prosecute those few who are ripping off the wineries and preserve the reputation of numerous growers and brokers who are doing business honestly,” said the attorney general.

The suits contend that 711 tons of wine grapes sold to Lost Hills, Charles Krug, Robert Mondavi, Sebastiani and Delicato wineries were misrepresented.

Don Sebastiani said retrieving and relabeling French Colombard wine that was incorrectly sold as higher-grade Sauvignon Blanc cost his winery more than $1 million.

The suits all name Nick and Francisco Bavaro, two brothers who own vineyards and a grape brokerage in Escalon in San Joaquin County. Two cases also name Licciardi Bros., a Stockton-based grape brokerage.

The Bavaro brothers could not be reached for comment, but Mike Licciardi denied any wrongdoing.

“We rely on inspection at the winery to ferret out any misrepresented grapes,” he said. “And those inspections are conducted by the wineries and state officials themselves, so it seems to me they are accusing their own officials of slipping up.”