Archive for the ‘Wine Legal Battles’ Category
We live in an age when watching and listening seems to be the preferred mode of learning, accumulating information and gathering input on nearly every subject under the sun. Under our sun, and often discussed in this forum, is the question of the three-tier system of alcohol distribution. Many words, and the occasional picture, have been spent discussing how, why, where , when and to what affect alcohol is distributed to Americans. It's time to put images and sound to…
In the wake of watching the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association casually make use of their purchase of the Michigan legislature and their ownership of Nida Samona (is it legal to own another human being?), I began to ponder the political relationship between American alcohol wholesalers and the rest of the wine industry: How can it be that a key sector of the American wine industry always finds itself in a position of supporting laws and legislation that hurt…
I think the development of the direct shipping channel is still in its early stages. I think a great number of changes will come to this channel. Issues of access, technology, legality and logistics are still in flux. The profit upside for committed and smart players in the business of direct shipping of wine is pretty big, be they wineries, logistics companies, service providers or tech companies. And I think that 2009 will be an important year in the development…
What is "Influence" and what makes an individual "Influential". Let's not over think this. Isn't "Influence" the power to make other people act and think differently…or at least to act and think? And isn't one MORE influential if they can provoke MORE people to act and think? So, if we ask the question, "who are the most influential people affecting the Online Wine World", we are looking for people who, through their actions (online or otherwise), cause larger numbers of…
Would you take advise on your swing from a player that was hitting .000 for their career? Would you take advice on how to win a football game from the Detroit Lions, who have yet to win a game? Of course you wouldn't. So why would the Michigan legislature take advice from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission on constitutional issues surrounding direct shipment of wine. Michigan LCC Chair Nida Samona is 0 for 4 in her various attempt to interpret…
