Let’s Celebrate December 5th!

If there’s one offbeat holiday that Whitehall Lane Winery celebrates, it’s December 5^th. What is December 5^th you ask? The anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition! Also known as “Repeal Day.”

In 1919, Prohibition took effect, making it illegal for anyone to purchase or sell alcohol in the United States for 13 years. It was one of those things that the legislature thought would solve problems but ended up just creating more.

What was life in Napa like back then? Napa had silent movie houses! We sure have come a long way. Now, we can watch a movie in our homes while drinking a glass of wine.

The 18^th Amendment

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

Prohibition was repealed on December 5^th, 1933.

The 21^st Amendment

Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

Had prohibition not been repealed, Whitehall Lane Winery and all the other fabulous Napa wineries wouldn’t exist today. And for that, we toast to “coming to our senses” and the freedom to provide the world with delicious wine.