Following up on the previous post regarding the use of California wine at a state sponsored exhibit during the upcoming Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, I spoke with Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department public relations director, Lindsay Vidrine, Monday.

Ms. Vidrine, like the PR person I earlier contacted at the Dept. of Commerce, also understood Disney was responsible for the choice of wine. When I explained the previous conflicting statement from the Disney representative, Ms. Vidrine said she would investigate further and get back with me.

Yesterday, Lindsay (we’re on a first name basis now) said that a problem with using Oklahoma wine at the event is due to alcohol distributors in Florida being unable to obtain sufficient quantities of Oklahoma wines. But she did leave a glimmer of hope for Oklahoma vintners: Commerce will be discussing the problem with the President of the Oklahoma Grape Growers and Wine Makers Association in an attempt to include Oklahoma wines at the Oklahoma exhibit.

One thing for sure, if the hiccup is with alcohol distribution,
I’d bet state wholesalers, distributors, and legislators have something to do with it.

In 2000, Oklahoma voters approved a measure that made wine makers exempt under Oklahoma liquor laws, which require all alcohol manufacturers to sell through a wholesaler.

But a change came after three large liquor wholesalers sued the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission in federal court last year. In November, a federal judge ruled the provision was in violation of interstate commerce laws. He gave the Legislature six months to fix it, but lawmakers failed to directly address the issue during the 2007 session. So on June 15, the judge ruled in favor of the wholesalers, striking down wineries’ exemption and upholding a three-tier system for alcohol distribution.

James Milner is a lobbyist representing Oklahoma wholesalers and distributors. He feels things are just fine.

Under the current system, wine lovers are able to buy a wide variety of fine wines from local retailers – without having to pay the high shipping costs involved in a wine club, he said. A few of the more successful wineries in Oklahoma have been working with wholesaler companies in Oklahoma to distribute their products

Liquor distributors and legislators may like the status quo, but the more I learn about Okie liquor laws, the more I understand why California wine would be the preferred choice at an Oklahoma Centennial event promoting state culture and cuisine. Of course, that’s no excuse for a state agency to do so.

It’s good that the folks at Okla. Commerce and Tourism will be at least talking with representatives of Oklahoma wineries about supplying wine for the Epcot Festival. It’s not so good that they didn’t do so before lining up an out-of-state product. Wouldn’t it be a shame if folks visiting Oklahoma’s exhibit echoed the remarks heard from tourists at Don Neal’s winery in Stroud.

“They say, ‘Why should I come in to your winery and buy California wine?’” he said. “They’re looking for Oklahoma. They’re looking for that unique taste.”

Why indeed.

Addendum -
According to an Oklahoma attorney well versed in state liquor law:

I do not know of any Oklahoma law that would prohibit an Oklahoma winery from shipping Oklahoma wine to Florida.

Which makes me wonder if state officials ever even considered using Oklahoma wine to begin with.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 at 11:56 am and is filed under Culture, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.