This week’s wine news: Dave McIntyre of the Washington Post takes on efforts to halt direct shipping, plus saving the kids from getting drunk and a baseball wine item
• Direct shipping clampdown: Dave McIntyre of the Washington Post takes on efforts to stop consumers from ordering wine out of state retailers, describing it as “The three-tier system that favors big producers and big wholesalers is fighting back. …Over time, the way we shop has changed, and wine lovers demand more freedom to buy wines that don’t reach local shelves through the traditional system.” The piece is worth reading – well thought, concise, and sensisible, and even discuss possible solutions.
• Striking back: The Texas Package Stores Association, which just had a federal judge call one of its favorite state laws arbitrary and irrational, is taking another tack to keep Walmart out of the state. From a post on its Facebook page: “Since the United Kingdom has deregulated its three-tier system, alcohol-related crime, bar intoxication, and alcohol-related deaths have increased.” Which, of course, has noting to do with the court decision invalidating the law that gave the association’s members a virtual monopoly on spirit sales in Texas. But when in doubt, always bring up public drunkenness and teenagers.
• It’s baseball season: So that means it’s time for a baseball and wine post. Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is my new favorite player – he’s learning about French wine. Plus, he has discussed wine styles with Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who much prefers the kind of wine we don’t like to talk about on the blog. That’s the good news. The bad news? Happ is off to a .125 start, with 10 strikeouts in his first 16 at-bats. Not even first growth Bordeaux can fix that.