THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDFor decades the state-mandated 3-tier system of alcohol distribution worked. This is the system of sale and distribution of alcohol that nearly every state mandated at the end of Prohibition. It ordered that only licensed in-state wholesalers buy wine from producers around the country, that only wholesalers then sell to restaurants and retailers, who in turn sell wine to consumers. The market for wine from the 1930s through the 1970s was such that this system worked well for…

In a teleconference today with Journalists and industry types, Representative Mike Thompson (D)-CA made clear his absolute opposition to H.R. 5034 and the efforts he is making to defeat it. There is no question that Representative Thompson is the champion of wineries, retailers and consumers on this issue. Among the items Thompson addressed was the disposition of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the House leadership. Representative Thompson noted that Speaker Pelosi and the rest of the House leadership…

H.R. 5034 would “take the federal judge out of making alcohol laws…the only people who should be concerned about this legislation are the people who had planned to go to federal court and sue."Paul Pisano,Vice President, Industry Affairs and Counsel at National Beer Wholesalers Association, in the Naples News, April 27, 2010. Paul Pisano was on the inside when the H.R. 5034, the bill that would lead to the end of direct shipping of wine in several states, severely harm…

"The law [H.R. 5034] will reinforce a 2005 Supreme Court decision, which said states can’t discriminate between in-state and out-of-state wineries in matters of direct to consumer shipping."Paul Pisano,Vice President, Industry Affairs and Counsel at National Beer Wholesalers Association in The Naples News, April 27, 2010. "…WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION" Paul Pisano, who was as responsible as any single individual for writing the text of H.R. 5034—the bill that will lead to the end of direct shipment in many states—forgot to mention…

Are we really to believe the wholesalers when they tell us that they want to protect wine shipping rights for wineries and consumers? After they've have spent 20 years doing everything they can to stop consumers and wineries from using the direct to consumer channel? Craig Wolf of the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers Association wants you to believe he's just out to protect shipping rights. In a statement today, the WSWA said: "The CARE Act does not overturn state laws…