"CyclesGladiatorWine" news and stories

Alabamians, avert your eyes. Photo: Hahn Family Winery

Wine and scantily clad women may sound like some cad's idea of a good time, but the combo spells trouble in Alabama, which last week banned the sale of a California-made wine bottle adorned with a naked nymph -- helping boost its sales elsewhere in the nation.

Pursuant to the state's administrative code, the Alabama Beverage Control Board ordered Hahn Family Wines to remove its Cycles Gladiator wines from shelves throughout the state, calling its label "immodest." According to Hahn president Bill Legion, a small state board in Alabama rejected the artwork last year, but the ruling did not catch Legion's eye. His apparent defiance of the state's decision -- he claims the paperwork "fell through the cracks" -- led to the ban.

"It's turned out to be a great thing for us," laughs Legion, who says he's received calls of support from oenophiles around the world.