Last week we told you a bit about the large groups standing on either side of the big HR 5034 debate, representing wineries, retailers, and wholesalers. What you may have noticed was that there didn’t seem to be much advocacy on the side of the wine consumer—quite possibly the largest and most integral part of the wine market. To that end, California-based wine blogger Tom Wark has started up a group on Facebook called the American Wine Consumer Coalition, which currently boasts nearly 1,400 active supporters.

Unlike other wine lovers’ forums, the AWCC is built specifically around the goal of amplifying the opinions of wine consumers to a level that they can affect state and federal policy changes. Current regulations and the expansion of those regulations under HR 5034 severely restrict interstate commerce, frustrating wine consumers by limiting their access to the thousands of different wines currently sold in the United States. The AWCC is determined to change that system. And besides the political activism, the AWCC Facebook page’s wall is also a great place for members to post interesting and informative links, such as “Weird Wine Laws” and articles that spotlight the entities fighting to maintain the status quo.

If the aims of the AWCC match up with your own feelings about wine commerce laws, you might find that the rapidly expanding Facebook site could be a regular online stop for you. Simply by “liking” this group, you’ll be able to join in the conversation with other wine consumers…and hopefully help make your own voice heard by Congress.