Comments on: Taxing Beer to Pay Doctors

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:29:19 +0000

I know. I'm a Missourian and believe it or not that's wine country. Until Prohibition Missouri produced more wine than any state in the Union other than California. The area around Augusta, Missouri was America's first appellation.

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:09:40 +0000

DAVE -

Crazy as it sounds, in Bordeaux the same type of grapes grown just a thousand yards from each other yield different wines. Terrior.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:14:01 +0000

Australia, Argentina. What's the difference?

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:44:18 +0000

James and Sam -

See, there you go. To each his own preference.
Although the Malbec's I've tried and liked were all from Argentinia. In fact, I didn't even know Australia was having a go of it with that grape.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Although Australian wines suck.

Heh. Actually, I've had some very nice Malbecs from Australia.

By: sam

sam — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:10:37 +0000

You can't see it, but there's a white flag waving above this line.

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:07:02 +0000

I have to weigh in here. The notion of a geographical region "besting" another is just wrong. Regions have styles, based upon weather, terrior and winemakers preferences; but its not necessarily that one region is inherently "better." So for example, the left bank (Cab) Bordeaux wines, especially from Pauillac and St. Julien, with their classic austere and narrow blue fruit wrapped around smokey tannins style appeals to many (like me) but is not necessarily "better" than a more fruity cab from California. Or to go the other way, a lush California merlot is not necessarily "better" than the more earthy right bank merlots from St. Emilion. (Although "fruit bomb" merlot based wines are all the rage in "garage" wineries over there now.) There are fine wines from everywhere, and no "best" region. Although Australian wines suck. Sorry, couldn't help myself.....

By: sam

sam — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:40:36 +0000

BTW, for the wine aficionados, there was indy movie a few years ago called Bottle Shock, that is a fictionalized account of the besting of French wines by California wines in an official competition in France in the 70s. It's a nice little movie. Stars Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, and Dennis Farina. Farina's character tells Rickman's character (who brought the wines from California for the competition), "You know what this means, there's going to be worldwide wine production now." And, lo. Rickman has a funny line. Pullman, the American vintner says, when Rickman first shows at his winery and makes his pitch, "Why do I think you're a pompous ass?" Rickman: "Well, I'm British."

By: Grewgills

Grewgills — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:27:09 +0000

Funny you should mention that, PD. I've got one batch aging right now, another I should bottle soon, and it's probably time to get another started up right quick.

We just finished the kegerator a little while back and are planning on brewing a Belgian style Wit in the next week or two to start the summer. After that we were looking to make an Amber, do you have any good recipes?

By: sam

sam — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:19:13 +0000

@Drew

sam -

At the risk of being called a wine snob.....

Well, I was thrown out....:)

By: odograph

odograph — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:18:33 +0000

Charles ... tell the Liberals that they should give out free wine/beer until it reaches the optimal health threshold, and THEN tax the excess ;-)

(Actually that is very like Martin Luther's day.)

By: Carbon Credits, Liquor Licenses, and Regulatory Surplus

Carbon Credits, Liquor Licenses, and Regulatory Surplus — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:05:56 +0000

[...] very much on Matt Yglesias’ mind these days, it would seem. Fresh off his positive review of taxing alcohol to pay for health care, he hits on an instructive analogy for the idea of carbon permits. [C]urrently in Washington DC [...]

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:41:48 +0000

sam -

At the risk of being called a wine snob.....

Red fruit flavors would be rare indeed in Cabernets. They are all about blue fruits, especially cassis and plum. Merlots can have hints of cherry or rasberry. I've never heard of (or tasted) strawberries. Could happen, I guess.

Apricots? In a red? I must say I've never heard of that. Apricot is a hallmark taste in Sauternes.

By: charles austin

charles austin — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:10:11 +0000

But, but, isn't moderate consumption of alcohol supposed to provide substantial health benefits? Now they want us to be less healthy while they lower health care costs? Or do they believe that people will not modify their behaviors regardless of any tax increase? And if so, then why so much social engineering using the tax code?
Dman, this is so confusing.

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:57:03 +0000

I'll quibble with the notion of booze as sin. Unlike tobacco and gambling, alcohol has medical benefits that go beyond just their enjoyment. Its arguably healthier to drink moderately than not at all. It's also odd that just after an election where major candidates drank alcohol for the camera to show that they understood "Joe Six Pack," the politicians want to stick it to Joe. I wonder why Joe doesn't trust Washington?