This dynamic couple falls into my own personal category of modern day heroes. There are those who might want to dispute that. (They fall into the wine industry’s three-tier system… somewhere between a winery and wine shop owners and/or restaurateurs.)
When I first met this delightful couple, Eleanor explained her frustration to me of coming to California to visit wineries, tasting exceptional (sometimes very limited release) wines that wouldn’t make it back to her home state of Michigan for sale. This meant that what they were experiencing was very privileged, making it impossible for them to write about these wonderful wines for Michigan readers without it being an injustice for those who would want to taste, but couldn’t buy, the wines.
“How was any local writer in a non-reciprocal state able to freely write under these conditions?” thought I.
Hum… injustice, lack of freedom… This sounded very Un-American to me. I quickly saw her point.
I’m sure that many wine writers inside other non-reciprocal states felt this same way. It was they, however, the Healds, that did something about this injustice.
When they filed a law suit against the state of Michigan, Eleanor told me that a domino effect had to start somewhere. That’s all it was… Simply getting on with life and the American way.
How many of us know someone so determined, and so willing to apply their own time and energy – without regard for non-compensation – to begin the motion of turning a battle ship around of this major proportion? Not since the repeal of prohibition in 1933 had a single ripple occurred in the way wine was being distributed.
Honestly, I wish I had a couple of Superman capes to give them for this photo. (I’d doll up Eleanor’s cape for her, put some lace on it or something like that – turn it into superwoman so they wouldn’t confuse whose cape belongs to whom for any future photo ops.)
The link to read all about this story on GRANHOLM, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN, et al. v. HEALD et al: Argued December 7, 2004
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