The Rise and Fall of Cabernet

[Thomas]

Ah, but tax is a relative thing. Where the taxes in England seem high, the base price of European wine is usually lower than it is in the states--shipping, mark-ups etc.

IK is correct. Unless one follows all the local laws, it is impossible for us to tell you (Tastevin) our complete tax structure because, after the overall federal taxes, which are across the board, taxes vary from state to state.

In 1933, when Prohibition was repealed, the mealy congress of the time thought it best to avoid dealing with the issue any further and so they wrote a truly stupid legislation that gave the states the right to control alcohol sales and distribution (and to them wine was no different from beer or spirits, or rubbing alcohol I suppose). The result of this abdication of responsibility is that 50 states produce 50 varying degrees of truly absurd (and often corrupt, if not plain criminal) control systems, not to mention a potential conflict with the 4th amendment of the sacred and often abused for special interests American Constitution.