Today marks the 86th anniversary of the official Repeal of Prohibition—that 13 year period during which it was illegal to produce and consumer alcohol in the United States of America. It was this constitutional measure that turned the first few years of the Great Depression into the Great Dystopia. Nevertheless, today we are free still, after 86 years, to consume our favorite beverage. One thing, however, of real interest to me was the spin that different folks put on #RepealDay….

It’s been seven months since Kathy, Henry and I carried ourselves out of Napa and up to The-Great-State-of-Oregon (I’m told that’s the correct pronunciation). I am still regularly questioned in emails and otherwise as to how we like it up here and how it’s going. Here’s my impression. The Wine Industry There’s very serious winemaking going on in these parts and there have been for some time. One interesting thing is that despite the centrality of Oregon winemaking being here…

Why in the past 100 years have we never witnessed a breakdown or a safety-related tragedy related to Santa’s sleigh? There’s a reason. And I’m here to admit I’ve continually downplayed the real circumstances that have kept that sleigh in the air and children smiling: America’s Three Tier System of alcohol distribution Today I was finally and embarrassingly brought to my senses and shown the error of my ways. My long, myopic and misplaced disdain for the Three Tier System…