Campaign for Champagne Jayne launched

Supporters of “Champagne Jayne” have launched a fundraising campaign to help the wine communicator during her ongoing legal battle with the Champagne bureau.

Champagne Jayne on the set of This Morning

Launched this week via GoFundMe.com, funds raised from the campaign, titled “Jayne vs Goliath” will be put towards the wine writer and educator’s escalating legal fees. In its first day, the campaign raised AU$275 of a $40,000 target.

“She is fighting to protect herself from bankruptcy and defend both her integrity and business from the bullying behaviour of the CIVC,” said Diane Lofts, secretary at Wine Guild Victoria.

Born Rachel Jayne Powell, Champagne Jayne is unable to rally support herself due to a gagging order imposed by Melbourne Federal Court.

Champagne Jayne with Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger

“It is very important not only for Jayne to be able to continue with this fight but also for other independent professionals to show their strength and not allow large global corporations to drive out and destroy the businesses and lives of hard working individuals,” read the press release about the campaign.

Last December, the CIVC took Powell to court accusing her of trademark infringement over the use of the word “Champagne” in her name, which, its says, “damages the goodwill of the Champagne sector”.

Under the terms of the case, the CIVC has asked Powell to stop using her @ChampagneJayne Twitter account and her Facebook account to promote sparkling alternatives to Champagne.

Taking place at Melbourne Federal Court, the trial was halted after three days of negotiations and cross-examination when both parties agreed to a mediation settlement, which bans Powell from speaking to the press.

Talks will be resumed next month in the presence of an independent adjudicator. If they fail, the trial will be resumed on 10 March.

Powell has been working under the name “Champagne Jayne” since 2003 running Champagne talks, tastings and masterclasses in Australia.

She trademarked the name “Champagne Jayne” in Australia in 2011. A year later, she was made a Dame Chevalier de L’Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne.