Recently Coscto (after a nine year court battle) forced a ruling from the State Supreme Court that the Three Tiered System was unconstitutional. The state has now retaliated by creating a system of paper work so insane that it has put pressure on small state wineries to find a distributor or risk being left out of the market. One winemaker told me he was told by two of his retailers that if he didn't go through a distributor, they would no longer buy from him. Distribution takes up to 40% of a cut for that privilege. Each time I legally by from a winery direct, I have to now fill out a ridiculous form stating what I bought, how much, all pertinent label information, and whatever other high maintenance bullshit. I have to do that separately for each winery I buy from. We have 485 and counting in Washington. If I never buy from that winery again, I still have to still file the paperwork separately each month and send it in. Yesterday, a district manager from Noble (yeah right) Wines basically threatened us saying if we didn't start stacking our shelves with their crap wines, we will never get access to the good stuff. If I wanted to live in a Communistic fascist state, I think I would move there. But it is here, now. For a better yet satirical view of this mess, read The Story of Chateau Bob:

...and get pissed, because the wine industry will never reach it's full potential until the distribution cartel is broken up. Click on the Shackled Grape and read more. Other people with legislated profits are deciding what wines you get to drink.