U.S. Wineries Fight to Ship across Nation; Supreme Court to Rule

Beginning of article

Byline: Tom Ramstack, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to referee a battle over consumers who can't find their favorite merlot or chardonnay on local store shelves.

The high court will hear three appeals in the dispute among wineries, wholesalers and states over wine sales across state lines. The states and wholesalers, which control alcohol sales, are fighting producers who want to sell their bottles over the Internet and by phone.

Small brands "can't be everywhere like bread" and don't get as much attention from distributors, actor Fess Parker, 79, told Bloomberg News.

Mr. Parker portrayed Davy Crockett on television during the 1950s and runs a California vintner that sells Fess Parker wine. Big producers such as Robert Mondavi Corp. and …