article_snippet: News of the lawsuit, which broke last week, struck fear in the hearts of frugal wine consumers nationwide, prompting many to share lists on social media of labels named in A class-action lawsuit, all but declaring the outcome a foregone conclusion.
article_snippet: the class action complaint filed March 19 on behalf of two California couples names 28 companies that represent 83 low-cost labels familiar to supermarket wine aisle shoppers:
article_snippet: Or is the lawsuit a fearmongering tactic being used to drum up business for the beverage-testing company used for A class-action lawsuit, as some defendants and industry insiders have insinuated?
article_snippet: Most of some defendants and industry insiders said some defendants and industry insiders wine was safe to drink when contacted by CNN.
article_snippet: Others referred CNN to the Wine Institute, a California trade group that called the claims "false and misleading."
article_snippet: "We are concerned that the irresponsible publicity campaign by the litigating party could scare the public into thinking that wine is not safe to consume, which is patently untrue," said the group, which represents 1,000 California wineries, including 10 of some defendants and industry insiders.
article_snippet: And We hope the winemakers will take these findings just as seriously and work to make sure the winemakers wines are safe," spokesman Rob Feldman said.
article_snippet: Neither BeverageGrades nor BeverageGrades CEO, Kevin Hicks, is a party to the lawsuit.
article_snippet: But Hicks' appearance in the segment prompted detractors to cry conflict of interest.
article_snippet: In a statement to CNN, Hicks' said it was concerning that some winemakers would point to this as a conflict of interest "instead of focusing on making sure some winemakers product contains the lowest amount of contaminants possible.
highlights_snippet: Winemakers respond that Winemakers wines are safe and the suit amounts to fearmongering .
  