Francis Creighton, the CEO of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), wrote a piece celebrating the three-tier system called A Stronger Industry Through the Three-Tier System. Ironically, the fruits of the liquor industry he celebrates come in spite of the three-tier system and not because of it. As his blog post goes […]
Spirits wholesalers are being taken to the woodshed by the beer wholesalers. The recent news that RNDC lost key accounts in California was shocking and influenced RNDC’s decision to leave the largest consumer market in the country. Significantly, Reyes Beverage Group (Reyes), the largest beer wholesaler benefited by landing many of these key accounts formerly […]
Will the Real Oregon please stand up
News broke Friday that the Oregon Ethics Commission voted 7-1 to increase former director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission Steve Marks fine from $500 to $1,500. All this stems from the allocation of Pappy Van Winkle bottles for himself and other privileged individuals.
By […]
In early May the news came out that the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (Ethics Commission) rejected a negotiated deal for $500 with former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), Steve Marks. Under Marks watch an investigation determined that rare bottles of Pappy Van Winkle that were supposed to be available only […]
Happy Birthday Granholm
May 16th is the 20th anniversary of Granholm, twenty years later I look at how Granholm has impacted the marketplace.
Granholm’s legacy
The Supreme Court victory in Granholm was one of the greatest things to happen to the wine industry. The growth in wineries has been massive […]
Don’t piss off the wine critic
Who would think the wine critic in the Indy Star would change history! When the wine critic at the Indy Star could not get the wine he wanted to do his job, he reached out an attorney friend named Bob Epstein. Bob later coupled with Alex […]
El Nacimiento Tequila earned medals at the world’s most prestigious spirits competition, The San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Earning Silver were El Nacimiento Anejo and Blanco and earning Bronze was El Nacimiento Reposado.
This is the first spirits competition that our portfolio was entered into since I took an ownership interest in the brand. Next time hoping […]
Rarely do I post on non-liquor issues, but today is special as the Good Lord allowed me to live long enough to see a White Sox fan and a fellow south side born Chicagoan to become Pope!
It brings me back to Catholic Grammar School to the first Pope I had an affinity to Pope John […]
The Legislative rollbacks
Victory in Granholm led to a massive growth in interstate winery shipping. Before Granholm DTC wine shipping was available in 27 states, when winery shipping becomes legal in Mississippi that number will stand at 48 states.[1]
Granholm became the dominant force in the expansion of winery direct shipping […]