Jul 5, 2006
Georges Duboeuf Wines, the French wine company that you probably know as the King of Nouveau Beaujolais, was convicted of fraud in a french court for making a mistake in the blending of one of their wines that never made it to market. The fine was approximately $38,000. What happened was that in the course of blending up a new batch grapes that did not satisfy the Beaujolais appellation requirements made it into the wine, a wine that never made…
Jul 4, 2006
If you are a mere consumer of wine, rather than a seller of wine, I realize it’s a bit tough to get your panties in a bunch over an obscure state law that really only affects wineries. Yet considering the state, the date and the truly unAmerican aspect of the law in question, let’s see if we can’t wrinkle up those undergarments of yours. Since the 1980s Virginia’s wineries have been able to produce their wine and sell it to…
Jun 30, 2006
The state of Illinois has been through a lot of turmoil this year over its direct shipping policies and in its attempt to update its wine regulations in the wake of various legal cases. Earlier this year the Illinois wineries were willing to give up their right to sell directly to restaurants and retailers. The deal they worked out with distributors, who feared that left in place this privilege would mean out-of-state wineries would also be given the right to…
Jun 27, 2006
While I know my position on the immigration debate in the U.S., I don’t claim to know exactly HOW the ultimate outcome will affect the wine industry. Wine is an industry that employs a number of migrant workers, a great many of which are surely illegal. However, this little tidbit found at the California Farm Bureau Federation website is very interesting:"Meanwhile, Joseph Ramazzotti, owner of Ramazzotti Vineyards & Wines in Geyserville, told the "San Francisco Business Times" last week that…
Jun 27, 2006
Today the Senate of the United States is considering an amendment to the constitution that would prohibit the desecration of the American Flag. It is an important debate that pits free speech advocates against those who would put priority on protecting the apex of American symbolism. While this debate is important, I would urge congress to move past it quickly and get to what is a truly consequential and urgently needed debate: Whether Americans Should Have The Right to Practice…