Prohibition

Oh what a sad time for wine enthusiasts...prohibition was enacted in 1920 and lasted for 13 years, all the way through to the year 1933! During this time, grapes had become important to the economy of criminals. However, during this time, a loophole allowed for sacramental wine to be produced, medicinal wine and medicinal tonics(port wine) to be produced. It also allowed people to produce up to 200 gallons of juice per year. Well, some smart people added in yeast and sugar to the juice..and we all know that that makes! So, the government recognized that people were making alcohol from juice, and forced vineyards to shut down completely because they didn't even want grapes to be grown to make the juice! During the roaring 20's, distilled spirits, beer and fortified wine became the most popular beverages of choice because they were easier to come by than regular wine. In fact, people turned to these beverages for the effect rather than the taste, and these people became known as "winos". This is where that term came from! Also, during these years, people would get grape concentrate shipped to them from California and make alcohol from this. The concentrate labels even said on them, "Do not add yeast and sugar or fermentation will take place!". When prohibition ended in 1933, 60% of wine sold in the U.S had over 20% alcohol because people had become accustomed to port wine. Also, the only wineries that had survived were wineries that produced only sacramental wine, such as Beringer and Christian Brothers. Let's hope prohibition doesn't ever take place again!