Justice and Injustice in Prohibition in the United States The prohibition on the sale and supply of beer, wine, and spirits which was experimented with in America between 1920 and 1933 was not just […]
Major Milestones during the Wine Prohibition Period January 3, 1920: On this day, the Federal state recognized the medical values of Wine, and the United States legalized the therapeutic consumption of Wine. Many doctors […]
The Evolution of Wine in Christian vs. Islamic Theology Alcohol and religion have been linked for thousands of years. As we have seen, the oldest evidence of alcohol in the Middle East shows its […]
A Wine Lover's Guide to Understanding History Wine is a fascinating subject to study. From the grapes themselves to the barrels used to age wine in the cellar, there is so much history to […]
August 1248: During this time, Château de Goulaine began its wine journey as the de Goulaine family produced wines for their personal consumption. Eventually they turned commercial and became France's oldest continuously operational winery, […]
Prohibition Across the United States December 5th is a date that brings joy and light to people's faces in the bar and wine community. The date commemorates the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, which […]
January 1911: During this month, riots broke out in the towns of Damery and Hautvilliers as tensions approached a breaking point. Trucks carrying grapes from the Loire Valley were pushed into the Marne river […]
April 16, 778: On this day, Louis the Pious was born. From 813, Louis the Pious, also known as the Fair and the Debonaire, co-ruled the Roman Empire with his father, Charlemagne. He reigned […]
Beaumont Wines and the Black Markets of the Wine Industry From 1920 to 1933, the Eighteenth Amendment's restrictions on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic drinks in the United States led to illicit […]
The Growth of the Jug Wine "Jug wine" in the United States refers to affordable wine bottled in a glass jug or bottle. The other term used for Jug Wine is "dago red" because […]
Although the act banned the production, selling, and transportation of wine across the United States, wine production was permitted for medical and religious purposes. The act had a catastrophic effect on the wine industry. Most of the wineries went out of business and stopped operating, and the profitable grapes plants were replaced with other crops such as olives and corn.
Some of the remaining vineyards with businesses outside the United States started exporting grapes to the United States. These vineyards focused on grapes that could be shipped to distant destinations without being damaged. Many soft grapes were cut-down, and thick skin grapes were planted. To attract buyers in distant markets, they also focused on colored varieties. The wines produced from these grapes had very high levels of alcohol.
The name “jug wine” came from the fact that winemakers used to sell wine bricks with an explicit instruction that “do not put the brick in a jug for twenty days; otherwise, it will turn into wine.” After the act’s abolition, Jug wines were readily available and economical.
flickr user pinguino, CC BY 2.0
Did you know? Jug wine played a significant role in the growth of American wine culture. It was one of the first types of Wines that Americans drank, and it helped shape our idea of what wine should be cheap, sweet and high in alcohol in the United States.Finally, Jug wine is often seen as a working-class lifestyle and cultural symbol. Despite its negative associations, jug wine has a rich cultural legacy and is a reminder of the prohibition period and the Italian-American community. See more resources here.
August 1, 1903: On this day, Charlie Carlo Rossi was born. He would go on to become one of the most famous wine shippers in history, as well as the man who introduced the world to Mountain Red. During Prohibition, Rossi began shipping wine from Italy to the United States. He quickly gained a reputation for quality, and his wines soon became popular among criminals and bootleggers. In 1962, Rossi introduced Mountain Red, a cheap red wine that was sold in a large jug. The wine was an instant hit, and it helped to make Rossi one of the most recognizable names in the wine industry. Today, Rossi’s legacy lives on through the success of his namesake wine company. Thanks to Charlie Carlo Rossi, millions of people around the world have enjoyed a glass of Mountain Red.
