As you may know, there is a strong movement being started that would greatly restrict your freedom to purchase wines on a direct basis. It is our feeling that this does a great disservice to wine lovers everywhere. We feel that these laws are solely being forced through local legislatures to protect the "mini-monopolistic" status of local wholesalers.

While Betsy and I are strident supporters of local, retail wine establishments and the benefits that they offer to the wine consumer ... we are strongly opposed to being limited to only being able to secure those wines that the local wholesalers decide to carry.

There are a number of organizations that are out there to protect your wine rights and we strongly suggest that you visit them.

A great organization trying to protect your freedom to purchase wine is the Free the Grapes Organization.

A Must Read site is the The Wine Institute's Direct Wine Shipments Page. Here you will find out all about what states and what carriers will or will not allow direct wine shipments. We wish we could have all wine lovers read these pages !!

Another Site that keeps tabs on the upcoming laws is the The Family Winemakers .. this is a must visit site if you want to protect your right to locate and purchase fine wines !!!