We all know about America’s strained past relationship with alcohol- that dark time in the 1920s and early ’30s known simply as “Prohibition.” Prohibition was a national ban on alcohol, everything from the sale to the production to the transportation, all due to the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

The Eighteenth Amendment’s ratification was certified on January 16, 1919, exactly 93 years ago this day! While Prohibition increased religious fanatacism, crime rates, and deaths due to poisoned alcohol, it also gave rise to a widespread interest in homebrewing.

During Prohibition, the wineries and vineyards that weren’t used specifically for sacrimental wine production (the consumption of which was legal under the Prohibition laws) were shut down, but The Volstead Act allowed for 200 gallons of wine to be made at home. The Act included many loopholes, exceptions and exemptions, allowing for everything from medicinal prescription of spirits to home production of wine and distilled liquors, although not allowing the distribution of such beverages (beer, however, above 0.5% alcohol, remained illegal).

With the commercial wineries shut down, the vineyards remaining began selling grapes and home juice-making and wine-making kits to amateur winemakers. Zinfandel grapes were exceptionally popular, and Muscadine and fruit wines were standards in the South. The kits often came with instructions on how to NOT make an intoxicating beverage out of the fruit juice, thereby giving the home winemakers the detailed steps on how to make wine. Unfortunately, the quality of wine suffered due to unregulated standards of production and inexperienced amateur winemakers who, quite frankly, just wanted to make wine to drink alcohol.

Once Prohibition was repealed on December 5, 1933, it took a long time for vineyards to resume their previous yields, for wineries to begin producing quality products, and for wine to regain its reputation as an elegant, classy libation. Thankfully, American wines have continued to raise its standards and, as such, home winemakers are now focusing on the quality of the wine they’re producing and are reaching artisan levels.

Here at the Georgia Winery, we supply some amazingly talented area home winemakers with the various ingredients and instruments they need, and we are always excited to help new people get into wine-making! Georgia Wines, Inc. started out as a home wine-making project of Dr. Rawlings’ and has, by the graciousness of our amazing customers, grown to what you know us as today- so we proudly raise a glass of the finest homebrew to the other amateur winemakers out there. Without you, America’s wine culture wouldn’t be what it is today!

If you’re interested in learning more about the wine-making process or want to join in on the fine homebrewers movement, ask one of our sales associates for information or contact our winemaker, Glynn, for private classes! You can get more information about our winemaking classes by emailing info@georgiawines.com, or by calling (706) 937-WINE.