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 […]
DTC Shippers Not Required to Pay VA Litter Tax
Some Wine Institute members holding VA direct-to-consumer licenses have received letters from the Virginia Department of Taxation saying that they are “delinquent” on several years of litter tax payments. Wine Institute has worked with local officials to determine that no such tax payment is due. Any member who has received a notice from Virginia’s Tax […]
GAINING APPROVAL from VIRGINIA ABC for FULFILLMENT WAREHOUSES
In July 2009 Virginia ABC notified Virginia Wine Shipper licensees they were prohibited from contracting with third parties for selling and shipping wine into Virginia. Since then industry has been working with Virginia ABC to outline allowable uses of third parties. The culmination of these efforts was a new Virginia regulation which took effect in […]
Virginia and Third Parties, What You Need To Know Before November 4
In July of 2009, the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (Virginia ABC) sent out Circular Letter 09-05 to Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipper and Beer Shipper licensees, prohibiting Direct Shippers from contracting with third parties for receiving or shipping orders on behalf of the licensee. Since then, Virginia has been working with industry members to outline […]
Virginia Passes Fix-It Bill for Third Party Shippers
Wine Institute Eastern Counsel Terri Beirne has been working since July 2009 with the Virginia ABC Board, and representatives of Wine America and the Virginia wineries to resolve problems created by VA ABC Circular Letter 09-05. That Circular prohibited Virginia direct wine shippers from using any third-party service providers, namely fulfillment or pick and pack […]
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 […]
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 […]
