At the annual convention of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America last April, the trade group boasted that they would sponsor events to bring small wineries products into their distribution networks. Six months later, the wineries are calling WSWA's program a sham.
Out of more than 3,000 American wineries, merely 11 wineries participated in the WSWA's Taste of the Industry event, pouring their wines for WSWA's 500 wholesaler members. Even from that small group, you cannot find a winery that managed to sign a contract to have the wholesalers represent and distribute their wines.
Here's a quote from the full article:
A wine war pits wine consumers -- who want to purchase wine directly from wineries -- against the multi-billion dollar wine wholesaler cartel, who want all purchases to flow through them. Since 1986, 26 states have opened to legal, regulated direct shipments from out-of-state wineries to adult consumers. These states have procedural safeguards in place that are satisfying state alcohol regulators and tax collectors, and are meeting the needs of a dynamic, national marketplace. For more information on direct shipping visit www.freethegrapes.org and www.pointclickthink.com.
Wine Wholesalers Event was a Waste For Family Wineries
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