Okay, like many (I can only assume) I did a jig when I heard the Supreme Court ruling that sang a victory for small wineries everywhere.

Much too hastily, it seems.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Last week, in a 5-4 ruling that rocked Michigan's inbred beer and wine industry, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a regulatory scheme that had for decades forbidden out-of-state wineries from shipping directly to their Michigan customers.

Wine drinkers celebrated, assuming that the decision cleared the way for them to order wines from California and Oregon the same way they purchase those manufactured in Michigan.

But beer and wine wholesalers, who'd defended Michigan's right to discriminate against out-of-state vintners, were quick to point out that nothing in the Supreme Court's ruling required the state to permit direct wine shipments from anyone.

In a letter to state legislators dated last Wednesday, the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association pointed out that all the nation's highest court had mandated, strictly speaking, was that all wineries be treated the same.

"The court is not declaring that wine lovers have a blank check to purchase from out-of-state wine producers," the letter said. "The key operative words in the decision are 'if a state chooses to allow direct shipping,' which clearly means that a state may choose not to allow direct shipping."

So when do we get to celebrate? When do I get to order bottles of grapey goodness from my favorite small wineries in California and Oregon?

But as Free Press staff writer Jennifer Dixon observed in an exhaustively documented investigation published earlier this year, beer and wine wholesalers wield political power disproportionate to their modest numbers.

...

State lawmakers have about three weeks to fashion shipping rules that comply with the Supreme Court's objections.

Can they prove themselves worthy of the wholesalers' love with so many consumers watching?

I won't hold my breath. In the mean time, I'll simply be thankful that I live in a fairly metropolitan area with a pretty decent selection.

...even if I do have to ship my Marylin Merlot to my Aunt in Arizona, and then have extra reasons to celebrate family reunions that can be measured in milliliters.

Posted by Michael at May 23, 2005 11:05 PM

Posted by: Veteran at May 24, 2005 05:08 PM