Amid the current Washington threat of filibusters and an impending Senate nuclear winter over judges, it's important to note the critical work of the judiciary: namely, the recent Supreme Court decision protecting your right to have a cult cab dropped at your door, not by pompous waiters in bow ties, but by uniformed delivery truck drivers. The court ruled that New York and Michigan could not ban shipments from out-of-state wineries while permitting in-state wineries to do the same. "Discrimination," the court averred, 5-to-4. Yet like the rash of Senate blithering currently itching the world's most deliberative body, the ruling is irrelevant, at least in Texas. Earlier this month Texas Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 877, which essentially declared the entire state wet for wine shipments. (Sheesh, can't somebody just Super Soak the whole damn Republic and get it over with?) The problem: Though the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission opened Texas for direct wine shipments in 2003, it ruled wineries must comply with existing wet/dry rules--a shipping nightmare since the patchwork bears no relation to ZIP codes. Still, even this may be irrelevant if Louis and Peggy Davion have anything to do with it. The Davions will open Swirll next month, a do-it-yourself winery in the Davis Building downtown. Here's how it works: Swirll imports bulk grape must from vineyards all over the world, offers sample tastings and guides you through the wine-making process utilizing your favorite must. Six weeks later, you bottle, cork and label your own fermented go-go juice. "And away you go with about two and a half cases of wine," says Louis Davion. "I call it the reality wine-making experience. Like the reality shows on TV, we put you right in the middle." Yeah, but can you sing or eat worms while inserting corks?
