Let the wine flow

A federal judge has ruled that a Massachusetts law banning almost all direct sales by out-of-state wineries to in-state consumers is unconstitutional. (Warning: PDF link)

This is great news for everyone except the big alcohol wholesalers who got exclusive government-mandated rights essentially to impose a tax on wine sales. What this means is that we will soon be able to buy those local wines from smaller wineries throughout the country. My first purchase will be some Bettinelli Vineyards wine, I think.

Then I wouldn’t stay ticked at my fellow residents for voting down beer and wine sales at supermarkets and convenience stores. At least ticked so much.

Photo credit: Flickr user Joe Pitz. Used under a Creative Commons license.