Wine History
Prohibition was a difficult time for American wine producers. Before prohibition, alcohol was not illegal. In fact, the wealthy could buy entire shops full of alcohol and sell it to the public. The less well-off, however, had to find alternative sources for alcohol. However, the prohibition did not end the wine history during prohibition.
During Prohibition, the only legal outlets for alcohol were houses of worship. But despite the restrictions, grape production increased by 700 percent in heavily Roman Catholic California. According to Gregory Elder, a professor of history at Moreno Valley College and a former Roman Catholic priest, the era of Prohibition spurred the growth of grapes. Elder speculates that grapes used for sacramental wine would have been grown during this time.
While most wineries ceased production after the 18th amendment, some continued to sell their products despite the law. These wineries used code words to conduct their transactions. Prohibition also made society more lax and lenient towards alcohol consumption, so there were speakeasies throughout the country.
Prohibition also caused significant damage to the California wine industry. Many wineries were never able to recover from the loss of revenue. As a result, many winemakers moved on to other professions. However, a small group of pioneering wineries continued to exist, including Pope Valley Winery. In 1907, Ed Haus’ son Sam became a friend with an enterprising Chicagoan. Despite the dangers of Prohibition, the Haus family continued to produce wine. They even sent their wines via rail to Chicago, where they were served in speakeasies run by Al Capone. Eventually, the prohibition was over and the winery was able to resume its winemaking activities.
Wine History During Prohibition
During the Prohibition, the consumption of wine increased by almost 100 percent, but many wineries were forced to close. Moreover, the prohibition made it difficult to access wine for non-sacramental purposes. Despite this, some wineries survived the prohibition by converting the grapes they used for the production of non-alcoholic drinks.
Prohibition did not end the wine industry, but it did ruin the drinking habits of many Americans. Fortunately, the Volstead Act permitted exceptions to the law for religious ceremonies, research, and fuel. Even today, the alcohol laws in many states still contain counties where alcohol sales are prohibited. So, despite the fact that wine has changed since the start of the prohibition, this era still leaves a scar on American wine industry.
In 1919, the National Prohibition Act was passed by Congress. Prohibition prohibited Americans from manufacturing, selling, importing, and exporting intoxicating liquors. This ban devastated many industries, increased crime and upended social life. While the prohibition failed to make the United States a teetotal society, it left the nation with winemaking heritage to cherish.
During the Prohibition, many priests became bootleggers. In fact, there was a priest in New Orleans who sold wine to the public. The archbishop of San Francisco made the priest buy the wine from him.