Local Wineries Fight for Their Lives!
OGGWMA's Education Chair John Coleman and an Oklahoma winemaker have worked together and released an interesting letter on the changes in store for the Oklahoma wine industry.
I am writing to let you know about a fight that the grape growers and winemakers in this state are about to be engaged in that could determine if our industry lives or dies.
In case you haven't heard, three of the largest liquor distributors in the state have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of our right to self-distribute that was given to our winemakers by a vote of the people in a general election back in 2000.
You may or may not be aware of the fact that similar lawsuits have been filed in several states within the past year. In several of those states the winemakers lost their right to self distribute. Many other don't yet know their fate.
The wholesalers in Arkansas are even trying to take away the Arkansas wineries rights to sell wine at their own tasting rooms... -- John Coleman OGGWMA Education Committee Chairperson
See the entire letter for yourself on OGGWMA's website: http://www.oklahomawines.org/educhair.htm
Find your Oklahoma legislators on this list(Word format):
http://www.oklahomawines.org/HouseSenateE-mails.doc
Please write, call, e-mail or fax them voicing concerns about your rights and the need of protecting economic diversity in Oklahoma.
Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Wineries, Free Trade, Oklahoma Wine Business, Deregulation
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