Mormons, Merlot and The Utah Liquor Monopoly: Selling Wine in Zion

Falanghina, Spartacus

ISBN 10: 1734428015 / ISBN 13: 9781734428018

Published by Spartaghina, 2020

Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00099492185

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a wine broker? Now, how about a wine broker in the land of archaic liquor laws and an overbearing religion that shuns alcohol - like UTAH? A job selling wine, a product many consider a hobby or a curiosity, can be one of the most stimulating, rewarding, and intriguing careers in the world. Jobs in the wine industry are highly sought because, at the core level, one is decently compensated for, in its most straightforward description – drinking. However, if the job entails selling wine in Utah, that makes the job somewhat harder and often ludicrous. As a control state, the government is tasked with buying and selling all alcoholic beverages over 5% alcohol by volume – for a healthy profit I might add. Because the state operates a monopoly without competition, they have implemented and erected barriers by limiting products they only want to sell at prices dictated by expensive set state taxes. And, as if selling alcohol in a monopoly isn’t hard enough, the state legislature is predominantly comprised of lawmakers belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since Mormons disdain alcohol, they control it in a way that only makes sense to them. While there are stories about selling wine, winemakers, liquor laws, and Utah politics, certain content illustrates the LDS religion's connection to controlling alcohol while violating separation of church and state principles of the United States of America.

About the Author: The pen name, Spartacus Falanghina, was chosen for symbolic reasons. Spartacus refers to the ancient Thracian slave who revolted against the imperious Roman government. And Falanghina, derived from the word, phalanx, is a type of native grape from Campania, Italy. It grows in tightly formed overlapping clusters that function as sort of a barrier or shield to protect the whole from the elements. Interlocking shields formed a phalanx protecting the historic Trojan army in battle.Born in Murray, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, the author had many different jobs, but found he was a natural in the restaurant business. After twenty years, and realizing owning a restaurant was out of reach, he shifted to a career as a wine division manager for a major company. His first novel, written stylistically as a memoir, "Mormons, Merlot & The Utah Liquor Monopoly," is his truth. It's a critical and satirical interpretation of wine trends, winemakers, politics, liquor laws, the Utah legislature, and the LDS Church's duplicity. He wrote the children's book, "Me & Jo and a black cat named Tupelo," on an old newspaper while traveling. It sat on his desk for several years before inspiration led him to work on the text. It's an amusing tale with an educational lesson illustrating the use of perfect and imperfect rhymes. And with every good tale, there's a moral to the story.The author enjoys playing golf, fly fishing, and any wine from Bordeaux.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Mormons, Merlot and The Utah Liquor Monopoly...
Publisher: Spartaghina
Publication Date: 2020
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Good