Found a great article on Newsday.com today detailing how the current archaic U.S. state wine shipping laws are negatively impacting the budding wine production business in New Jersey.
And if you think NJ is not state with fine wine potential, then you’ve probably not yet tasted the premium reds from Tomasello Winery, which was one of the top favorite picks of Andrea Immer on her TV show Simply Wine. For the record, Tomasello has stopped shipping wine to consumers within their own state.
This same scenario is playing out with similar negative effects all over the continental U.S. You can do something about it – starting with writing to your state legislators to let them know how you feel.
Tomasello makes some excellent wines, I agree! Personally, I’m fond of their Vintage Port 2005. It’s a shame that states are making it difficult for these wineries to do business.
Yeah – it seems as though many states are taking the stance that instead of being fair to everybody, they will be unfair to everybody and that will fulfill their legal requirements under fair commerce since they’re treating everyone the same way.
Natali Vineyards In Cape May Court House Nj is not only growing some really unique grapes to full 26 brix, but what they have done with fresh fruit from the Garden State (NJ) making all 100% all natural Fruit Wines, Including my favorite 100% Banana Wine. I must say being a passionate red wine drinker their Cab Sauv blows away any Cab I know under $45 and their price is only $24. These boutique NJ wineries like Natali Vineyards plant their saplings, grow the grapes for at least 4 years , hand pick only the finest grapes during harvest, ferment on site, aged and daily monitored, bottled on site by hand and sold directly to the consumer. Does anyone know how labor intensive that is and how clean that product is? I believe the public and I should be able to buy the product from my home here in Michigan with out paying some huge broker fee! Let them ship! They are making wines that are winning many medals in international competition's! Great Job NJ! BRAVO!
Wow – a blast from the past! Thanks for commenting here and reminding me about this fight!
Totally agree with you kn the direct shipping point (of course). Cheers!