Free the Grapes! – the national grassroots coalition of wineries, consumers and retailers – has reason to celebrate and another challenge to oppose.
In honor of the fifth anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Granholm v. Heald, and to defy a federal bill seeking to erase consumer gains, Free the Grapes! has declared May as “Grape Liberation Month.”
“In 2004, only 27 states allowed wineries to ship directly to consumers. Now, 37 states allow such shipments, which can reach 83% of American wine lovers. Although not all grapes are free, the number and diversity of wines available has expanded considerably,” said Free the Grapes! executive director Jeremy Benson.
“We’re inviting American wine lovers to raise a glass to toast these achievements and to help stop HR 5034. The bill could reverse these gains and reduce consumer choice by offering federal backing to anti-competitive and discriminatory state alcohol beverage laws.”
Armed with the official Grape Liberation Toast, wine lovers are encouraged to get together with friends and family today (May 16) to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
“Raise a glass to freedom of (wine) choice,” added Benson. “The cause continues until all grapes are free. Cheers!”
For more information on Free the Grapes’ response to HR 5034, visit http://www.freethegrapes.org/index.php?q=content/media_updates.
More information on today’s national toast is available at http://www.freethegrapes.org/index.php?q=content/Grape_Month_Toast.
