SOUR GRAPES

As a recovering political blogger, I try to avoid such topics. But, every now and again, I come across a story that gets my blood boiling. This is one of them because I volunteered to harvest grapes at a local vineyard here in PA in late September.

Apparently in the state of California, it is illegal to volunteer to pick grapes at a for-profit vineyard. According to this story from the San Jose Mercury News, Westover Winery, a small, family-owned vineyard in the Castro Valley, was driven out of business last month by California's Department of Industrial Relations for using what they call "illegally unpaid laborers," aka volunteers. The winery, which is open only 10 hours a week and nets only $11,000 a year, has been forced to close because they cannot afford the steep $115,000 government-imposed fine.

Who, exactly, is this idiodic law designed to protect? The state's spokesman cited concerns about volunteers injuring themselves and unfair competition. Really? Couldn't a volunteer's signature on a liability waiver solve the injury issue? I had to sign one before I picked grapes last month. The sad thing is, when I harvested grapes in Austria a few years ago, that wasn't even necessary. And, how much "unfair competition" could this little vineyard be? I'm sure the big guys in Napa are quaking in their boots. Maybe it has more to do with generous contributions to political campaigns and crony capitalism than anything else.

What business is it of the government if I want to volunteer my time and labor? Perhaps the learning experience, the chance to be out in the vineyard, and being part of the winemaking process is far more valuable to me than the money. I don't need protection from myself, thank you. It seems that the volunteers that were interviewed would agree.

#wineharvest