More shipping issues

[Andy Velebil]

Larry Schaffer, a California winemaker, posted this on his FB page and on another wine forum. A retailer here in Cali also posted he's lost about $100,000/year in sales with the new restrictions on shipping and he's not a big shop. I could only imagine how much a large retailer like K&L Wines has lost in sales. I would implore any of you buying wine out of state to make sure you can still get it delivered before you buy it.

I received an email from my third party shipper yesterday informing me that, until further notice, they are not allowed to ship to the following states, regardless of whether a winery has a license to do so or not:

Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Kentucky (felony)
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Rhode Island and of course
Utah

Note that this is a major third party shipper used by many throughout CA so this will affect quite a few wineries. My guess is that other third party shippers are getting the same word, so you may see many wineries informing those who live in these states to prepare NOT to receive direct shipments in the near future.

This is getting crazy, and it's all driven by in-state lawmakers feeling heat from in-state wineries, in-state retailers, and mainly in-state wholesalers. What can we all do? Consider contacting your local congress person, consider contacting FreeTheGrapes and other organizations that are fighting for consumer rights, etc.

Bummer . . .

[Tom Archer]

Protectionism never benefits the consumer..

[Tom Archer]

Just a thought..

If California's wine growers are at all organised, shouldn't they be drumming up support for a constitutional amendment to guarantee the free movement of goods?

[Eric Ifune]

California's growers are divided into at least two camps, the large and small producers and they have had acrimonious relations in the past. The alcohol wholesalers are dominated by only a few companies and they are pretty much together. They also have enormous lobbying power in their regional areas.