Shutdown, Tariffs, and Hemp The past few weeks have been a vivid reminder of how complicated DC can be and, accordingly, why it’s so important to have WineAmerica there watching out and weighing in. The limited government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), due to a political stalemate on ICE’s operations, is still … Read more

New Shutdown Record, Hemp on Hold, Dietary Guidelines Reopened! It took 40+ days, a new world record, but the government is now officially reopened, even if a number of operations, services, and benefits remain backlogged or in limbo as everyone tries to clean up. Among the many downsides from this political scuffle were major disruptions … Read more

Like many states, Kansas was a significant wine producer in the 19th Century along with neighboring Missouri, populated by German immigrants who brought the wine tradition with them.  However, it was also the home of Carrie Nation and the early temperance movement, and, in 1881, the first state to pass statewide prohibition. That didn’t totally … Read more

New Shutdown Record Politicians broke their own prior record this week by failing to end the government shutdown, making it the longest in history at 36 days and edging the prior record during the first Trump Administration. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that holiday travel may be severely disrupted unless a solution is reached soon, … Read more

Like many states, Iowa produced grapes and wine far earlier than assumed (1857), even created a Grape Growers Association in 1893, and was the 6th largest producer until Prohibition wiped out the entire American wine industry. The modern wine industry has been propelled by creation of the Iowa Wine Growers Association in 2000 to provide education, promotion … Read more