On May 12, 2021, Tennessee Governor Lee signed legislation (H.B. 1481) to increase the amount of wine that a direct shipper may now ship to a consumer per year, from three to six cases. This is for direct shippers producing less than 270,000 liters (30,000 cases) per year. The three case per person, per year, […]
Tennessee Governor Signs Workable Fulfillment Legislation
The Tennessee legislature has passed and the Governor has signed a bill that requires licensing and reporting by fulfillment houses and reporting of DTC shipment information by wineries. The bill(s), as originally filed, would have banned the use of fulfillment houses for DTC wine sales. Wine Institute worked with stakeholders and the ABC to craft a […]
State-by-State COVID-19 Guidance for ABC Licensees
To assist with winery sales and business operations, Wine Institute’s State Relations Team has compiled a listing of guidance for State ABC licensees in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The new resource page is updated continuously as new information is released and changes impacting the sale and regulation of wine are implemented. Many of the […]
Tasting Samples for Virtual Winery Experiences Approved by TTB
In an effort to help stimulate DTC wine sales, Wine Institute requested that TTB and California ABC provide clear guidance on whether small containers of wine may be shipped to winery customers by common carriers for virtual tastings. During Shelter-in-Place orders, this would replace the traditional tasting room experience where visitors sample small quantities of […]
States Enforce DTC Rules
The continued growth of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales channel means that states will continue to make DTC shipping laws a priority for enforcement in 2020. An increasing number of states are investigating DTC shipments and conducting compliance checks on direct shipper permit holders and common carriers. Wineries that ship directly to consumers outside of California […]
Local Sales Tax Reporting Changes in Tennessee
Beginning Oct. 1, 2019, wineries that hold a Tennessee Direct Wine Shipper license will no longer have the option to collect and remit the local sales tax at a standard 2.25% local rate. For sales that occur on or after Oct. 1, 2019, out-of-state sellers, including wineries, must apply the specific sales tax rate of […]
Tennessee Poised to Allow Wine Sales
On March 20, when Governor Bill Haslam signed H610 into law, Tennessee became the first state to expand the sale of wine into food stores since Iowa privatized wine sales in the mid-1980’s. Before any changes can take place, local cities and/or counties that are located in areas that are already “wet” for either on- […]
Entire State of Tennessee Open for Direct-to-Consumer Shipping
Wineries no longer have to worry about determining which areas of Tennessee are approved for direct-to-consumer shipping. On May 20, 2011, Governor Haslam signed Senate Bill 1030 into law, opening the entire state of Tennessee for direct-to-consumer shipping. SB 1030 amends Section 57-3-217(d) of the Tennessee code by striking the language prohibiting direct shippers from […]
Do Not Ship Zip Codes in Tennessee
The Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission has made it easier for Direct Shippers to determine if a consumer lives in a wet or dry area of TN by listing the zip codes for dry areas. Tennessee law only allows wineries with an approved direct shipper’s license to ship wine to consumers in municipalities that allow off-premise […]
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 […]
