Feb 5, 2007
There is a bill on the table in, of all places, Georgia that if passed by the Assembly there and signed by Governor Perdue would make that state among the more liberal in the area of direct shipment of wine. The new bill reads in part:"Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, any person currently licensed in this or any other state as a winery or a manufacturer, wholesale dealer, importer, or retail dealer of wine who…
Jan 25, 2007
I was trying to think of a good way to describe the power that the wine wholesalers have accumulated over the years; a good way to indicate the real heft of their influence; a way to demonstrate what happens when the number of middle men shrink in number while suppliers increase; a way to demonstrate the kind of entity that is created when the state mandates monopoly status on a small number of businesses. Then, the Dallas Morning News did…
Jan 19, 2007
I’m sure every wine lover has been waiting, breath held deep, for the moment when the volatile issues of Gay Marriage and Alcohol would be linked. Well, wait no longer. In Georgia, where Governor Perdue was happy to abide by a referendum of the people on the issue of Gay Marriage (it was voted down), is a bit less inclined to follow the will of the people when it comes to Sunday Alcohol Sales: “When you ask people generally if…
Jan 18, 2007
News is out that the MKF Research Study on the American Wine Industry demonstrates that wine and grapes contribute more than $162 Billion to the American economy. Pretty staggering! There is so much interesting information in this report it’s hard to really talk about it all. So I want to focus on one piece of interesting information: Between 2000 and 2005 the number of wineries in the United States increase from 2,904 to 4,929: A 70% INCREASE in the number…
Jan 10, 2007
Sometimes, when you are lucky, you get the chance to suit up and work alongside the righteous. You know who I’m talking about: those folks you’ve admired because they are fighting the good fight and pushing forward a cause that is entirely bonafide, righteous and without fault. When you get this chance…you should do it. I did.