The Board affirmed a refusal to register the term BIG
SIX, finding it generic for "wines," or
in the alternative, merely descriptive thereof. The Board agreed
with Examiner Samuel Paquin that "Big Six" refers to six
common types of wine: usually Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
(white), Pinot Noir (red), Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. In re Plata Wine Partners, LLC, Serial
No. 87292254 (August 22, 2019) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge
George C. Pologeorgis).
The Examining Attorney submitted numerous excerpts from various
websites, as well as results from a Google search, demonstrating
use of "big six" in reference to wines. The Board noted
that sometimes the list of six wines varies: e.g., Syrah
is substituted for Merlot, Pinot Grigio is substituted for
Sauvignon Blanc, and Zifandel is substituted for Riesling, but
these variances did not change the Board's analysis.
