Archive for the ‘Wine Business’ Category
In a recent interview with Liza Zimmerman at Wine Searcher, Rob Tobiassen, former Chief Attorney for the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, explains the benefits of the Three Tier System of Alcohol distribution. However, in the wide-ranging interview, Rob fails to point out one very important thing: the three-tier system of alcohol regulation is an extraordinarily archaic system of market regulation that has fallen under the control of a cabal of state-mandated and state-protected middlemen whose only interest is their…
Here’s an opportunity that doesn’t come along too often: “Discovering and nurturing the next generation of outstanding young wine writers has been one of my longstanding personal goals for Vinous. As part of our mission, Vinous established the Young Wine Writers Fellowship in 2014, shortly after we launched. I am thrilled to announce that the Fellowship is back in 2018″ The Vinous Young Wine Writer Fellowship provides the fellow with a $3,000 stipend to be used for travel to and research…
In the past, I had the opportunity to draw attention to new wine-related blogs that held great potential. I haven’t done much of this lately for reasons that at this time don’t warrant discussion. However, there is a brand new blog I do want to draw attention to because it should hold considerable interest to those interested in the legal side of the wine industry. The new blog is called Irish Liquor Lawyer and is the product of Sean O’Leary…
In a continuation of his provocative “August Essays”, influential writer Andrew Jefford makes the case that wine drinkers have a moral and ethical responsibility to choose their drinks with an eye toward responding the “extraordinary times unfolding around us”. Jefford argues that our purchasing choices ought to be guided by the way in which a producer or country is responding to or playing a role in a “world in which unilateralism, threats, posturing, bullying and sanctions are superseding multilateralism and consensus.” In…
In its fierce “determination to put an end to anti-competitive practices that hurt law-abiding businesses and prevent consumers from enjoying a wide selection of products” the TTB announced that it had levied punishment upon Napa Valley’s Modus Operandi Cellars. The crime? “Consignment sales of wine to wholesalers who were not obligated to pay for the wine until after it had been sold to retailers.” The Punishment: “A one day (emphasis added) suspension of its basic permit.” I’m not suggesting that Modus…
