Recently, we flew back east to see the family on Virgin America (yes, Virgin, free advertising...in return we accept free tickets, upgrades, and pretty, shiny objects) and learned something we never knew before regarding flying with wine.  A flight attendant asked what was in our rather large shipper box and we told them "lots of wine" because the closest wine store to where we were headed was about fifty miles away.  Now we always thought that the danger of putting wine in a wool sock in your suitcase was that it could easily break and you lose the wine and ruin your belongings all at once.  Nope, that's the least of your worries.  Suitcases are often stacked so if yours is on top and the wine leaks through onto all the other bags, they will actually trace it all back to your suitcase and make you pay for everyone's belongings.  She mentioned it happens fairly often and the bill can be in the thousands. 

     So, to all those customers who asked about flying with wine - we were TOTALLY kidding when we said just wrap it up in some underwear.  Get it?  Great joke.  Totally, totally, kidding.

Folks, 215 years ago this Friday (08/07/09), a bunch of farmers in Pennsylvania didn't like the idea of higher taxes on their booze, so they united and revolted against their government in the Whiskey Rebellion.  We here in California are about to experience another alcohol tax to help with the budget shortfall (understatement of the year).  Quick soapbox moment...you're not just taxing drinks that come from a drink fairy in the sky, you're taxing small businessess like ours and the loyal customers they serve.  Bailouts for big companies and a kick in the ass for the enterpeneurs yet again.  It's really too easy to demonize the word "alcohol" in our country.  Tax that bad stuff that people can get drunk from!!!  So what to do?  Legalize controlled marijuana and experts say California alone will have over a billion dollars in taxes in the first year alone.   There, done.  Now let's have a responsible glass of wine or two and deal with some REAL issues.  Like instituting a Mime Tax but they have to pay in REAL money, not monetary gestures.  Or that "Sewer Gnome" issue.