Newsletters, Three-Tiers, The Summit, Native Grapes and Oregon
The Update you have asked for is here
Sometimes things come in waves. The latest wave to roll over me in this neck of the woods is a series of recent emails asking about, well, me…and this newsletter and other projects I’m involved with. So, I thought I’d give something of an update on these and other pressing issues.
UPDATE ON THIS NEWSLETTER
It has been about 14 months since I switched to Substack and a subscription model and left behind a blog and 3,500 posts that was begun in 2004. I’m happy with the progress. Before switching to Substack last year, I had 1,000 subscribers to FERMENTATION: The Daily Wine Blog. These were readers who received emails every time a new post hit. Today I have significantly surpassed that in total subscribers to Fermentation The Newsletter. This calls for a big THANK YOU to all of you who are receiving this newsletter. I’m grateful.
I’m particularly grateful to the paying subscribers and your support. You represent a bit over 15% of my total subscribers. Both the free and paid subscriber base increases at about the same clip.
I remain happy with the format of Substack and the tools it provides. I hope you are too. It is a remarkably smooth working tool and if any of you are considering starting your own publication or newsletter I highly recommend Substack.
WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER
When I launched this newsletter with a subscription format, I was committed to making most of the posts accessible to both paid and free subscribers. For a good nine months, 2/3 of all new posts went out to both paid and free subscribers.
Toward the end of August last year, I flipped this. Since then, paid subscribers receive 2/3 of all posts exclusively and free subscribers get 1/3 of all posts. I remain very happy to have you as a free subscriber and I remain thankful for your support. However, if you want to everything published here at Fermentation I encourage you to upgrade to a paid subscription. Think of it this way: If you pay the $10 per month, that’s $0.33 per day. Take an annual subscription at $100 per year and that’s a mere $0.27 per day.
WHY AM I FOCUSING ON THE THREE-TIER SYSTEM?
Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been placing a good deal of emphasis on the three-tier system of alcohol regulation. I’ve written a short book on the subject set to be released as an ebook at Amazon on April 3: “Fermenting Change: The Politics, Corruptions and Reform of the Three-Tier System of Alcohol Regulation”. If you are a paid subscriber to this newsletter, you’ve already gotten a link to a free PDF of the booklet.
In addition, I’ve launched a sort-of-companion website to the book I’m calling, “Fermenting Change” and have given it the subtitle “Ending The Three-Tier System”.
Both projects have the same goal. For many years it has been clear to me that the three-tier system, and particularly the common state mandate the producers only sell to wholesalers and retailers only buy inventory from wholesalers, is the primary detriment to growth among small and medium-sized wineries, brewers, and distillers. it is also a detriment to growth and innovation on the retail side. Yet, this archaic system of alcohol regulation is primarily positioned as a boon for producers and consumers. Do a Google search on “Three-Tier System”. What you will find is primarily propaganda from wholesalers and regulators.
Both the upcoming book and the website are designed to push back on this narrative that the three-tier system works, is inevitable, and is saving the world from destruction. It does none of those things and there will now be a website and a book dedicated to the truth that the three-tier system must be ended and dismantled.
One more note on this. The website will also be attempting to create a community of like-minded folks in and around the industry who are willing to receive occasional news, updates, and alerts on the three-tier system. If you want to become part of the community you can sign-up to get the news and updates: CLICK HERE.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WINE RETAILERS
As many of you may know, for some time I have had the privilege of acting as the executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers. In this role I manage the association business and membership, direct lobbying efforts, oversee litigation efforts, speak on behalf of the Association, and manage the annual NAWR Wine Retailer Summit.
That Summit is coming up on April 20-21 in Miami. It is a small and intimate gathering so a great deal of interaction and networking can occur. The Summit focuses on issues of specific concern to retailers and others in the industry that are committed to creating a nationwide marketplace for wine retailing. We take a day and a half to carry out seminars and sessions devoted to legislation and lobbying, litigation, technology, and marketing for wine retailers. If you are a wine retailer or in the alcohol business and have an interest in attending, I invite you to visit this web page: https://nawr.org/2023-summit/
TERRAVOX VINEYARDS
Another client I work with and am very excited about is TerraVox Vineyards. I’m working with TerraVox in a consultant role focused on marketing and media relations. This winery, located just outside Kansas City, Missouri is undertaking a remarkable project. In its vineyards are planted dozens of Native North American grape varieties, most of which were discovered or hybridized by the famed Thomas Volney Munson at the turn of the 20th Century.
The owner of TerraVox is Jerry Eisterhold. Jerry is a renowned museum designer who also has an extreme interest in wine and history. This led him to ask the question, which of the hundreds of grape varieties that Munson developed and wrote about could form the basis of fine wine production based on Native North American grapes alone? TerraVox has been operating commercially for a decade now, making and selling wines like Wetumka, Albania, Stark’s Starr, Hidalgo, Norton, Muench, Cloeta, Lenoir, and Lomanto. This is a FUN project for me.
I am working on a webinar production set for the end of Spring that will bring together a set of experts to discuss the history and future of Native North American varieties and winemaking. I’ll mention it in a future edition of this newsletter when sign-ups are being taken.
OREGON
For 56 years of my life, I lived in the Bay Area. For nearly 25 of those years, I resided in Sonoma and Napa. I am not entering my fourth year in Salem, Oregon. Somehow two folks actually realized I was going into my fourth year here and recently emailed me essentially the same question: “Well, you’ve had time. What do you think?”
We are happy with our move. Oregon, particularly the western part including the Willamette Valley, the Coast Range Mountains, and the coast possesses remarkable beauty and it is difficult to not be impacted by proximity to that beauty. Moreover, the wine and farm fresh food here is spectacular. I am not, on the other hand, happy with the state of Portland, my nearest big city. The city simply has not found a way to stem homelessness and violence. The center of the city and other neighborhoods are still seeing an exodus by businesses. It is a great shame. As for the rain, I’ve come not to mind the constant dampness that is with us from October through April. With one exception. It is very difficult to get out and golf, a pastime I love dearly. I’ve gone from a 6 handicap to a 13.
That’s the Update. I expect I’ll do another one of these updates in about 12 months. Again, thank you for subscribing. I’m grateful.