BR: Wine & Politics by Tyler Coleman..

Just finished reading this book ystrday. Though not the riveting read that Tabor's Cork or Not To Cork or TheBillionaire'sVinegar books are, this is a well-reasearched book w/ a lot of interesting material in it. Unlike the AF book, I've no regrets having taken the time to read it. It can seem a bit lacking in focus and a bit scatter-brained at times, but the book has plenty of meat in it. Worth reading.
Tom

[Robin Garr]

This one hadn't come on my radar screen, Tom. Can you generalize about what kind of politics he's talking about here? "Dries" vs "wets"? Taxation and social-control issues? Vineyard development vs suburban sprawl? Or more the kind of politics that attends who gets to be in a favored AVA and who doesn't? All of the above, or something else?

This one hadn't come on my radar screen, Tom. Can you generalize about what kind of politics he's talking about here? "Dries" vs "wets"? Taxation and social-control issues? Vineyard development vs suburban sprawl? Or more the kind of politics that attends who gets to be in a favored AVA and who doesn't? All of the above, or something else?

Robin,
The book pretty much runs the whole gamut..which is why it sometimes seems a bit scatter-brained as a read. One chaptre is on green/organic/biodynamic and the conflicts over development of NapaVlly hillside vnyds. Another chapter adresses prohibition and the aftermath of repeal, then onto the vagaries of shipping into each state, the the complex of reciprocity laws. Another talks about the growth of mega-distributors, such as Southern (even alleges Southern torched this somm's Ferrari in LasVegas because he didn't have their wines on his list). And some about the politics behinf AVA's (recounts the Stags'Leap/Stag'sLeap thing). Not many good words about FredFranzia.
So....all of the above...and then some. Mostly about here in the USofA, but folds in some stuff about Europe as well.
Tom

[Robin Garr]

The book pretty much runs the whole gamut..

Thanks for the summary, Tom. Scatter-brained or no, I'll try to get my hands on the book. The author's name sounds familiar, by the way, but I can't place him. Aussie guy?

The author's name sounds familiar, by the way, but I can't place him. Aussie guy?

Don't recall his background, Robin. Has done some wine writing on the periphery of the wine-world as I recall.
Tom

Think he's the Dr Vino blog guy. I think American. Maybe Robin is thinking of Tyson Someone, the screwcap guy.

Think he's the Dr Vino blog guy. I think American. Maybe Robin is thinking of Tyson Someone, the screwcap guy.

Tyson Stelzner, the author of "Screwed for Good?" and other light classics:

http://www.winepress.com.au/author.htm

Mark Lipton

Met Tyler at the Napa Wine Writers Symposium in February. Yes he's Dr Vino - lives in NYC and pretty clued up in my view. Not seen the book yet.
http://www.drvino.com/