On March 10, 2010 Governor Culver signed Senate Bill 2088 which includes provisions to transition Iowa from a reciprocal shipping state to a permit state and allow unlimited direct-to-consumer shipments. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2010 and brings Iowa into compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2005 Granholm v. Heald ruling by allowing all […]
Circuit Court Rules that Massachusett’s Wine Shipping Law Is Discriminatory
The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston this week ruled in favor of the winery plaintiffs in Family Winemakers of California (FWC) v. Jenkins, the Massachusetts Direct-to-Consumer Shipping case. Wine Institute coordinated and filed an amicus brief in this case last summer, authored by Harvard Law School professor Bruce Hay. The Institute also provided […]
Update on VA ABC Circular Letter 09-05
On November 19, Terri Beirne, Wine Institute’s Eastern Counsel, met with the VA ABC Board, their Director, and representatives of Wine America and the Virginia wineries to continue discussions about the July Circular Letter 09-05 prohibiting direct shippers from using any third party service providers. Despite earlier indications, the Board has no plans to issue […]
Massachusetts Appeals Court Hears Wine Shipping Capacity Cap Argument
On Nov. 2, 2009, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston heard Tracy Genesen, legal director for the Coalition for Free Trade, present the winery side of the argument in the FWC v. Jenkins lawsuit being appealed by the state. Massachusetts wine consumers were previously the winners in a Nov. 19, 2008 court ruling […]
Maine Applications Available
The direct shipping applications for Maine are now available on the Wine Institute website. The direct shipping permit allows wineries to ship up to 12 nine liter cases of wine to a recipient’s address each year. The Department of Public Safety, Liquor Licensing and Inspection Division has confirmed that there are no prohibited shipping areas […]
Maine Direct Shipping Application Update
The Maine Bureau of Liquor Enforcement has indicated that direct shipping license applications will be available on September 12, 2009, the same day the direct shipping law becomes effective. Wineries should contact Lori Nolette, the contact for liquor licensing and compliance at the Bureau, for a copy of the application once it becomes available. The […]
TN Direct Shipper Applications and Instructions Available
Wineries are now able to apply to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Direct Shipper license. Direct Shipper licensees may ship no more than 1 case (9 liters) of wine to a TN consumer during a calendar month and total shipments to each consumer may not exceed 3 cases (27 liters) of wine during […]
WI WORKING TO CLARIFY IMPACT OF VA ABC CIRCULAR 09-05
Wine Institute and other industry representatives met with the Virginia ABC this week concerning their July 22, 2009 circular No. 09-05 governing use of third party service providers in direct shipments. The ABC staff was well aware of the concerns nationwide that their recent opinion has generated, but remained firm in their position that such […]
Annual Filing Option Now Available for Direct Shippers in New York!
New York has recently amended its alcohol beverage tax regulations to allow certain wine distributors to file Form MT-40 (Wine Tax Return) on an annual basis rather than a monthly basis. Out-of-State wineries must be licensed by the NY State Liquor Authority as a direct shipper and submit the “Application for Annual Tax Return Filing […]
Kansas Direct Shipping Applications Available
Wineries may now apply for a Special Order Shipping License that allows them to ship off-site sales to Kansas consumers. (On-site sales do not require a Shipping License). The initial costs for the Special Order Shipping License include a $50 license fee and a $50 registration fee. The license will be valid for 1 year […]
