When Terry David Mulligan said he'd take one for the team he wasn't kidding.

The broadcaster turned wine aficionado (and one-time Mountie) says he'll go to jail if that's what it takes to help change the 1928 Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, which makes it illegal for anyone to cross a provincial border with any kind of alcohol.

Mulligan made the promise at Breaking Down Barriers, a forum key wine industry players from across the country held at the recent Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival.

Many folks aren't aware it's illegal to mail that bottle of your favourite Okanagan Meritage to Aunt Mary in Moncton or move house across the country with your wine cellar tucked into the U-Haul.

However, the outdated law has more serious implications for Canadian wineries. Tinhorn Creek winemaker Sandra Oldfield calls the law "archaic" and says it's "unconstitutional" that scores of Alberta members of the Oliver winery's popular preferred customer Crush Club have to physically visit the winery in order to pick up their purchases.

It's also nothing short of embarrassing for B.C.'s blossoming wine tourism when visitors from outside the province find out that the winery isn't allowed to ship wine home to them. Although, some wineries will ship "under the radar," but technically risk their license. The problem runs right across the country.

Ontario's Charlie Pillitteri, who owns Pillitteri Estates Winery in Niagra, says he doesn't sell a lot of wine to B.C., but he does export to 32 countries, including China and Japan. It's just way less hassle, he says.

More sinister, some B.C. wineries that offer out-of-province shipment online say they've been told by other provincial liquor authorities they should change their websites. The implied threat is that if they'd don't comply, the liquor authority will stop carrying their wines. The other irony is that while you can legally bring liquor into Canada, technically you can't continue with it on your journey across the country.

Interestingly, several of the wines poured at the lunch, which followed the forum, were from out of province--and nobody was talking too much about how they got there. The lineup included Nova Scotia's award-winning Lacadie Vineyards Prestige Brut. It's made by former Hawthorne Mountain winemaker Bruce Ewert--but you can't buy it here. Despite that, we've managed to taste it--illicitly, of course--a few times.

The good news? Thanks to this forum, which included some of the best legal minds in the country), there now seems to be momentum to get things changed.

As a starting point, if you happen to be chatting to any aspiring political candidates (or better still, reigning ministers of the crown) during this election campaign, why not ask them when was the last time they smuggled wine and what they're going to do about their "criminal" behaviour.

"I have no idea what viral is but that's happening across the country," says Mulligan, who is gearing up for his interprovincial "smuggling" run, which he says should happen around May 4. Not surprisingly, interest within the wine biz is high. "There's even some talk of a convoy," Mulligan says.

Plenty more on this to come. For more info, check freemygrapes.ca or keep an eye on Mulligan's website: tastingroomradio.com.

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Hurry if you want tickets to Vancouver Craft Beer Week (May 6 to 14). Last year's event sold out. The 2011 edition features 55 breweries at more than 70 venues. Whether you fancy the Dead Famous Pub Crawl, Biercraft's Belgian Showcase or taking in Women and Beer II at Republic, best get on it now. Go to vancouvercraftbeerweek.com.

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BELLY'S BEST

- Columbia Crest H3 Merlot '08

H3 stands for Washington's well regarded "Horse Heaven Hills" appellation. Packed with anise, blueberry, black cherry and spice notes--a pretty polished drop for $22.95 at B.C. Liquor Stores.

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