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Why Free the Grapes! Matters Now More Than Ever

James Berry

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Barbara Gorder | President, Undisclosed Location, Inc.

The American wine industry is rooted in heritage, craftsmanship, and the special relationships between growers, vintners, and a great glass of wine. For decades, outdated regulations acted as bottlenecks, blocking wine from reaching consumers. The mission of Free the Grapes! is not just about legal or logistical issues—it's a crucial part of the future of wine.

The Power of Progress

When Free the Grapes! began in 1998, only 17 states allowed direct-to-consumer wine shipping. Today, thanks to relentless advocacy, 47 states now permit DTC sales. While reaching 47 states is a monumental milestone, the work is far from over. Ongoing legislative efforts remain critical to:

  • Opening the Final Frontier: We continue to advocate for the remaining states to grant their citizens the right to receive wine at home.
  • Removing Restrictive Barriers: Many "open" states still have complex capacity caps, on-site purchase requirements, or prohibitive fees that stifle small producers.
  • Protecting Gained Ground: Regulation is a shifting landscape; we must remain vigilant to defend the shipping rights we have fought so hard to win.

Collaboration at the DTC Wine Symposium

True progress doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it requires a shared vocabulary of ideas. The upcoming DTC Wine Symposium in Monterey, CA, serves as the premier forum for this evolution. It is more than a conference—it is a catalyst for:

  1. Strategic Learning: Navigating the shifting landscape of compliance and digital marketing.
  2. Radical Collaboration: Solving industry-wide hurdles through collective intelligence.
  3. Actionable Networking: Building the partnerships that will define the next decade of wine retail.

By attending, we aren't just observers of the industry—we are its architects. We gather to ensure that the path from the cellar door to the consumer’s table remains open, legal, and flourishing.

Your attendance at this conference—whether as a speaker, sponsor, or attendee — is essential and appreciated.

A Note of Gratitude

An initiative this significant requires immense dedication behind the scenes. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the DTC Wine Symposium Steering Committee for their tireless leadership and vision:

Let’s continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. See you in Monterey!

#WineIndustry #DTCWine #FreeTheGrapes #WineLeadership #MontereyEvents #DirectToConsumer

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